HC Deb 28 April 1884 vol 287 c756
THE O'DONOGHUE

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any confirmation has been received at the Foreign Office of the report that Mr. O'Kelly, the Member for Roscommon, had been arrested by the Egyptian authorities?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The Foreign Office was informed on March 10 that Mr. O'Kelly was said to be in the Nile Valley with the intention of going to join the Mahdi. On the 24th of the same month Sir Evelyn Baring telegraphed that Mr. O'Kelly was at Dongola, and that orders had boon sent by the Egyptian Government to prevent him proceeding further on his journey. I have no other information.

MR. PARNELL

With reference to the reply of the noble Lord, I beg to ask the noble Lord, whether he is aware that Mr. O'Kelly's expedition to join the Mahdi was undertaken in consequence of an engagement or commission for that purpose which he received from a newspaper?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

No, Sir; I have received no such information.

MR. PARNELL

Will the noble Lord telegraph to Cairo to ascertain whether it is the fact that Mr. O'Kelly has been placed under arrest by the authorities at Dongola?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I have no objection to communicate with the Secretary of State on the subject.