§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, What steps Her Majesty's Ministers, who are in military occupation of Egypt, propose to take in order to put an end to the administrative anarchy which prevails in Egypt? He also wished to ask another Question, of which he had given private Notice—namely, why steps have not been taken by Her Majesty's Government to avert the sufferings which had fallen upon the Egyptian people from this administrative anarchy?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the last Question is one of which I have had no Notice until the present moment. But with regard to the Question on the Paper, I will say it has been, and it will be, the duty of Her Majesty's Government to offer to the Egyptian Government—and, perhaps, they may do so in the future more promptly and with less regard to official forms than it has been their duty in circumstances less urgent —such suggestions as appeared to them likely to improve the condition of Egypt under its present difficult circumstances. I do not wish to be understood as subscribing to the assertion of the hon. Gentleman that "administrative anarchy" prevails in Egypt. I think it rather hard upon the Egyptian Government that it should be tested by the higher organization which prevails in the West. The Egyptian Government is doing its best to cope with a calamity which Western Governments have not always been able to cope with effectually; and it is unfair on that account to disparage it in the terms of the Question.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTgave Notice that he would, on the Vote for the salary of Major Baring prove that administrative anarchy existed in Egypt, and that it was due to the action of Her Majesty's Ministers.