§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Prime Minister, Whether he had received any notice of the intention of the authorities in Egypt to appoint Zebehr Pasha Governor of Khartoum? He was distinctly informed that it was the intention of the authorities—whether Egyptian or English he knew not, or both—to so appoint this man, who was well known to be the greatest slave dealer in the Soudan. He was, in fact, the arch-type of slave dealers. He (Sir H. Drummond Wolff) believed it was originally intended—he did not know whether by General Gordon on his own motion, or by some of that underground communication which had gone on between the English and Egyptian authorities—to send Zebehr Pasha with General Gordon to Khartoum. Reasons occurred which prevented that; but now he (Sir H. Drummond Wolff) was assured, on authority as good as a private individual could have, that Zebehr Pasha was to be appointed to the Governorship of Khartoum. He asked that the Prime Minister would give some satisfactory answer on the subject. If this terrible scourge were to be sent back to the Soudan, from which he was driven away by General Gordon himself some years ago, the House would consider that the remedy to be applied to the Soudan would be as bad as the disease it was intended to remove.
MR. GLADSTONEIn the very few words in which I shall answer the Question of the hon. Member, I beg my reply may not be understood as assenting to the collateral proposition which he dropped in the course of his remarks. What he asks is, whether the Egyptian authorities intend to appoint Zebehr Pasha Governor of Khartoum? My reply is that no arrangement has been made with respect to the Governorship of Khartoum, from which, at present, General Gordon—the person in authority—is conducting the great operations with which he is charged. Until the arrangements have been made, it is inclusively implied in that statement 239 that no intention has been formed by the authorities that Zebehr Pasha or anyone else should be Governor of Khartoum.