HC Deb 31 July 1883 vol 282 cc1144-5
MR. ASH-MEAD-BARTLETT

asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether complaints have been made by British shipowners that the local administration of the Suez Canal is partial and corrupt; and, whether the Commanders of British ships are frequently compelled, under risk of serious interruption to their passage of the Canal, to give douceurs and bribes to the officials?

MR. CHAMBERLAIN

Sir, I hope the House—I would almost venture to hope that the hon. Member, upon reflection—will feel that this is a Question which it is hardly generous—indeed, I may say, hardly even fair—to put on the Paper in its present form. The hon. Member makes, or rather insinuates, an accusation, which is the most serious and offensive that could possibly be brought against officials in responsible situations, and he does this without giving any particulars whatsoever. He does not indicate the names of the persons whom he desires to accuse, and does not specify the particular acts of which he accuses them. All I can say in answer to the Question is, that I have not myself received any official information bearing upon this matter, and I am informed by Sir Rivers Wilson that the British Directors of the Suez Canal have not received any complaints of the kind; but I am also requested to say that, if the hon. Member will put me in possession of any particular charges, which he thinks he can bring against any particular official, they shall be thoroughly sifted by the British Directors.

MR. ASHMEAD - BARTLETT

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has seen the report upon the demands — unfair demands — made on British ships passing through the Suez Canal, issued by the gentleman who has for many years been agent for the Peninsular and Oriental Company there; and I shall bring to his notice the report, if he has not seen it. It appeared in The Times some days ago.

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

You said "partial and corrupt."

MR. ASHMEAD - BARTLETT

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman if the demand of a bribe for the passage of a ship through the Canal is not corrupt?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

If the hon. Member is prepared to bring evidence that such a bribe has been demanded, he ought to bring that evidence forward, and not insinuate it.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Mr. Speaker, I wish to explain that I asked the President of the Board of Trade whether complaints had been made to him of this practice, and that was a perfectly legitimate and usual Question. I have not yet understood the right hon. Gentleman to deny that no complaints have been made. Whether that be so or not, I will, at the earliest opportunity that may be afforded me, bring before the House the evidence on which I base this Question.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN

In order that there may be no misunderstanding upon the matter, I beg to state that I have denied most distinctly that any complaints have been brought before me. [Mr. ASRMEAD - BARTLETT: You said official.] I have heard vague gossip very much in the nature of the Question of the hon. Member.