§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Upon what authority the report of the alleged treachery of Hassan Pasha Khalifa rests; whether Hassan Khalifa has always proved himself a gallant and capable officer, highly esteemed by General Gordon; whether he sent many telegrams between 7th April and 24th April, describing the danger of Berber, and asking for reinforcements; whether he held out from 24th April to early in June, when the town was taken by assault and the garrison and male population put to the sword; whether Colonel Trotter sent home from Wadi Halfa, on June 14th, the report of an Arab eyewitness, who said
The defenders of Berber fought bravely for two hours, and then, their ammunition being exhausted, the rebels rushed the town and slaughtered the garrison of 1,500 men, and 436 about 2,000 of the male population. …. Hassan Pasha was wounded and would have been killed had not his son Hassan and his brother Mohamed rushed to his rescue, and held the rebels' flag over him till the fight was over;and, whether more credence is to be attached to reports against Hassan Khalifa than the Government attached to the reports against the Mudir of Dongola?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe report as to the treachery of Hassan Khalifa rests alone on the statement of the messenger who brought General Gordon's letter to Dongola. All the information in the possession of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the second, third, and fourth Questions of the hon. Member has been published, and will be found in the Blue Books presented to Parliament. The Foreign Office has not received the report alluded to in the fifth Question. The sixth Question of the hon. Member involves a matter of opinion, and travels beyond the limits usually assigned to a Question.