HC Deb 08 April 1884 vol 287 cc36-8
COLONEL KING-HARMAN

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the Government will communicate to the House the Despatch from General Gordon, in which he is stated to have asked that a small British force should be despatched to Berber, and a British, India, or Egyptian force to Wady Halfa, for the purpose of effecting a diversion against the Mahdi; and, if General Gorden stated in this, or in any subsequent despatch, that, in his opinion, it was the delay of the Government which rendered this decision a necessity?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

It is intended, shortly, to present further Papers on this subject. I cannot say exactly what despatches or telegrams will be included in those Papers; but it would certainly be inconvenient and most undesirable that the particular despatch referred to by the hon. and gallant Member should be laid on the Table separately from the others which explain it.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

wished to know whether the extracts in question would be included among the Papers presented?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

said, that the selection of the Foreign Office Papers to be presented to Parliament did not rest with him. He would, however, communicate with the Foreign Office on the subject.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

asked whether the Papers would contain the communications with reference to the proposed appointment of Zebehr?

THE MARQUESS or HARTINGTON

I said before, and I think the right hon. Gentleman must be aware, that the publication of these Papers does not rest with me or my Department. All I can say is that I will make the right hon. Gentleman's request known to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

MR. J. LOWTHER

asked whether the Papers would contain the despatches from General Gordon relating to Zebehr?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I cannot undertake to state exactly beforehand what will be produced; but there is every desire to give the House the fullest information. There has been no Session of Parliament in which Papers have been presented so voluminously or so quickly as in the present.

MR. JOSEPH COWEN

asked what was to become of the refugees who had left Khartoum at the suggestion of General Gordon, and whether they had reached Berber or gone beyond that place?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Speaking from recollection, we certainly heard of the arrival at Berber of a considerable number, and I think we have heard of their having proceeded further.

MR. J. LOWTHER

wished to know by what force they were protected?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I cannot state exactly the numbers of the force at Berber.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

Does the noble Lord speak of the refugees only, or of the troops as well?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Colonel Coetlogen himself has arrived in Egypt Proper. The women and children were, as I understand, sent from Khartoum with a certain number of soldiers, some of whom were in ill-health. It was these persons I referred to as refugees.

MR. MACARTNEY

asked whether the soldiers sent with these refugees were not recalled to Khartoum by General Gordon?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I cannot answer that Question immediately. I will, if the hon. Member wishes, give him privately the information which he desires to have.