§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked the Secretary for War, Whether he was still of opinion that the Egyptian troops were unfit to take part in active service; and, if that were his opinion, whether the Government had determined to send those troops to take charge of the important garrison of Suakin?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThat is a Question of which I might reasonably ask for Notice, but to which, if I received Notice, I should be inclined to give the same answer as I have given to the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett). It is a point on which I would defer my answer until the time when the Government are able to make such general statement as they are able to make respecting the affairs of the Soudan. I do not know what the hon. and gallant Member is quoting from when he asks if I am still of opinion that the Egyptian troops are unfit for active service.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTsaid, he would give Notice. But the statement with regard to the sending of Egyptian troops to Suakin was in every paper in the country. The observation of the noble Marquess with reference to the unfitness of Egyptian troops for active service was made in reply to a Question which he (Sir Walter B. Barttelot) put as to whether the Government intended to send a battalion of Egyptian troops to act with British troops at Suakin.
THE MARQESS OF HARTINGTONI do not think I ever made use of the 1288 expression which the hon. and gallant Member attributes to me. I think I said that under the peculiar circumstances of the duty which General Graham's forces were to undertake, and the uncertain character of the operations, it was not thought desirable to send alongside British troops a force the capabilities of which had not yet been tested.