§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention had been called to a letter which appeared in that day's papers from Dr. Schweinfurth as to the dangerous position of General Gordon; and whether, in view of the grave allegations in that letter, Her Majesty's Government still considers it inexpedient to take immediate active steps for the relief of General Gordon?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI was just about to give to the House some information upon the matter alluded to by the hon. Member with regard to General Gordon. It does not directly bear on Dr. Schweinforth's telegram; but this information has been received from Mr. Egerton, who telegraphed on the 17th of July to Her Majesty's Government as follows:—
A telegram from Major Chermside to-day says that a Takruri and a Galla, calling themselves pilgrims, state that they left Khartoum June 12. The place was safe, provisions plentiful, and Arabs few. They left Berber on the 1st of July, which was in the hands of rebels. Hussein Pasha was in his own house, in possession of his property. There were a good many Arabs on road near Berber. … Sheiks, delegates, and spies from Digna's camp informed Chermside that Ragha, at Berber, was asking artillery assistance from Digna, as General Gordon goes out in steamer and fires at rebels in Berber. … Chermside's paid agents told him on 10th that Gordon was harassing rebels from Khartoum with seven guns on steamer.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI may add to what my noble Friend has said, that I have made inquiries with respect to the statement from Dr. Schweinfurth, sent to The Times, with the object of ascertaining what information Dr. Schweinfurth had received. 1616 It appears, however, that the actual whereabouts of Dr. Schweinfurth is not known, and it has not been possible to communicate with him; but, as soon as information has been obtained, it will be communicated.