MR. J. LOWTHERsaid, that as he did not see the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his place, perhaps the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department would state whether Her Majesty's Government were in receipt of any news respecting General Gordon's position at Khartoum? Certain paragraphs had appeared in the newspapers that morning, which professed to describe the state of affairs in that town, and to give news of General Gordon down to a much later date than had been received by her Majesty's Government, and he wished to know whether the Government had any information on the subject? He also wished to know whether the Government had received any information with regard to an alleged mutiny of Turkish troops at Assiout?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, that he was not in a position to answer the right hon. Gentleman's Question.
MR. J. LOWTHERsaid, that, in that case, the right hon. Gentleman would perhaps consent to take formal Notice of his intention to ask for information on the subject; because it was idle to put Notices of Questions upon the Paper in reference to paragraphs which appeared in newspapers, as the information contained in such paragraphs might be contradicted or modified before the Questions relating to them could be put and answered.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTsaid, he thought that it was scarcely convenient to put Questions with regard to such paragraphs, which the right hon. Gentleman admitted might be contradicted or modified the next day. Of course, however, if the right hon. Gentleman desired au answer to such a Question, he was entitled to have it.
MR. J. LOWTHERsaid, that he was not assuming that the newspaper paragraphs were correct, although one portion 1255 of the news they contained was calculated to greatly relieve public anxiety with regard to General Gordon. He begged to give a general Notice that he should ask Her Majesty's Government to afford the House such information on the subject as they might have received.