HC Deb 22 February 1884 vol 284 c1728
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Sultan of Turkey, who is Sovereign of Egyptian Territory, gave his consent to the Proclamation indorsing the slave traffic, which has just been issued by the British Governor General at Khartoum; and, whether the Sultan has authorised another Proclamation, in which General Gordon says— His Majesty the Sultan, the Exalted, had made up his mind to send Turkish soldiers, the well-known and valiant conquerors. But when His Majesty heard of your wretched condition, and of my compassion for you, he sent me, at great risk, to prevent the Declaration by His Majesty the Sultan, of War between Moslems?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

No, Sir; he did not. I cannot reply to the hon. Member's second Question, as the Proclamation has not yet reached Her Majesty's Government.

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

If the Government has not received the Proclamation, how can they tell whether the Sultan has indorsed it or not?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

That was not the Question of which the hon. Member gave Notice.

MR. J. LOWTHER

May I ask whether it is or is not the case that General Gordon holds any commission from the Sultan? It is stated so.

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I must ask the right hon. Gentleman to allow me to defer any answer to the Question until the Proclamation is in our possession.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Has the Sultan given his assent to any Proclamation?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

What I said was that he had not given his assent to the Proclamation referred to by hon. Members in this House.