§ SIR HENRY TYLERasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he can now, without detriment to the public interests, state the objects for which considerable quantities of Railway material have been despatched to Suakin; and, whether, in the event of any Railway being constructed from Suakin in the direction of the Nile, Her Majesty's Government will take into consideration the question of its ultimate use for the purposes of commerce with Central Africa?
MR. GLADSTONEAs to the first portion of the Question, I have to say that stores of the description which have been sent to the Port of Suakin were sent there in order to bring that port into a state adequate to receive the stores of any other expedition which it might be desirable to send there. With regard to the latter portion of the Question, I think it would be premature to answer a question as to the commercial uses of any railway from Suakin until a decision shall have been taken, or circumstances have become ripe for taking a decision, upon the subject.