HC Deb 27 October 1882 vol 274 cc275-6
SIR WILFRID LAWSON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he will give the names and the antecedents of the members who compose—1st, The Commission of Inquiry now taking evidence in the case of Arabi Pasha; and, 2nd, of the Court appointed to try him; whether the names of the persons constituting these two Courts have been approved by Her Majesty's Government; whether Her Majesty's Government have approved the employment of M. Borelli as Government prosecutor; and, whether he is the same M. Borelli who was convicted of fraud and embezzlement before a criminal court in France?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I do not know whether the hon. Baronet wishes me to read the long catalogue of Turkish names?

SIR WILFRID LAWSON

We want to see what sort of people they are.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, the members of the Commission of Inquiry are:—Ismäil Eyoub Pasha, President; Ali Ghaleb Pasha, Youssoof Choudi Pasha, Mohammed Zéky Pasha, Saaded-Dine Bey, Mohammed Hamdy Bey, Moustapha Ragheb Bey, Soliman Yousry Bey, Moustapha Khouloussi Bey, and Mohammed Moukhtar Effendi. The members of the Court Martial are:—Mohammed Réouf Pasha, President; Ibrahim Pasha el-Ferik, Ismäil Kamil Pasha, Hussein Assim Pasha, Kourchid Pasha, Soliman Niazi Pasha, Osman Latif Pasha, Ahmed Hassanéin Pasha, and Soliman Nadjati Bey. Her Majesty's Government were not consulted by the Egyptian Government with regard to the constitution of these Courts, and they are not in a position to give information as to the antecedents of the members of them, or as to the identity of M. Borelli.

MR. BOURKE

Can the hon. Baronet tell us what Arabi Pasha is to be tried for? ["Hear, hear!"] I ask the Question for this reason. Her Majesty's Government, on a former occasion, gave the House to understand that all captured rebels were to be treated as prisoners of war.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

I am at a loss, Sir, to understand how my right hon. Friend can imagine that such a Question can be asked without putting it on the Notice Paper. If he likes to give me Notice of his Question, I hope to be able to answer it.