HC Deb 02 July 1883 vol 281 cc47-8
MR. LABOUCHERE

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any information (other than what appears in the Public Press) has been received in regard to a telegram from Arabi Pacha to Said Bey Khandeel, implicating the former in the massacres at Alexandria, and which, it is alleged by the Egyptian Public Prosecutor, has been discovered; and, whether any steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to see that Said Bey Khandeel, now on trial on a charge of being connected with those massacres, will be allowed to put questions to witnesses for the prosecution, and to call witnesses on his behalf, with a view of proving his own innocence by endeavouring to show that the massacres were instigated by others, and that he himself acted under superior orders?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

No, Sir; no information has been received at the Foreign Office in regard to the telegram mentioned by the hon. Member. The trial of Said Bey Khandeel is being watched by Major Macdonald; and, in accordance with the statement contained in Lord Dufferin's despatches presented to Parliament, he has claimed the right to put questions, and bring forward the witnesses.

SIR WILFRID LAWSON

asked how it was that the Papers relating to this subject were only delivered to hon. Members this morning, and had, nevertheless, appeared in the morning; papers?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The Papers, in my opinion, ought to have been distributed on Saturday, and I have this morning caused inquiry to be instituted as to the reason why they were not sent down in time for distribution. They were here on Saturday, but too late to be sent out.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

asked how it was that these Papers were sent to the Press, seeing that there had been frequent promises on the part of the Government that Papers would not be published in the newspapers until they were in the hands of Members?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

If they had been sent to this House in the manner in which I anticipated they would be sent, they would have been in the hands of Members before they were published in the newspapers.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

Who is the official responsible for communicating such documents to the newspapers?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I have said just now that I have caused an inquiry to be made. If the noble Lord desires any further information, I shall be glad to give it him when that inquiry has been instituted.

LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL

When?

LORD EDMOND FIZMAURICE

On Monday.