HC Deb 18 July 1884 vol 290 cc1614-5
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the Secretary of State for War, If he can inform the House for what purpose British troops are now stationed at Assouan and Keneh, and British officers at Wady Halfa and Korosko; and, whether it is true that a British officer has been sent to Dongola?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I am anxious to give the hon. Member all the information in my power if I knew exactly what he wished for. I stated on the 24th of last month, in reply to a Question from the hon. Member, that the reason given by Sir Frederick Stephenson for sending a battalion to Assouan was that the tribes in front were becoming troublesome, and that it was desirable to support the Egyptian troops, and to give confidence to the Natives. I do not know that I can add anything to that, unless I know the particular point the hon. Member desired to bring forward. The British officers at Wady Halfa and Korosko were, of course, stationed with the Egyptian troops, and their presence on the Egyptian Frontier does not appear to me to require elaborate explanation. It is the fact that a British officer and an Egyptian officer had been sent to Dongola for the purpose of directing negotiations, if possible, with the tribes in the neighbourhood.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked whether the proportion of the Arab population between Wady Halfa and Assouan was not as large as the Arab population between Berber and Khartoum; and whether the force of British officers and troops had been put there with the object of "smashing up the Mahdi?"

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

No, Sir; they have been placed there with the object of restoring confidence on the frontier of Egypt.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

I thought the Arab tribes were becoming troublesome. I would ask the noble Marquess whether the Arab tribes between Wady Halfa and Assouan have got the same right to become trouble- some as those at Berber and Khartoum?

SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOT

asked the noble Marquess whether it would not be very desirable, considering the position of Assouan, not to leave one battalion only of British troops there, but to reinforce them with more troops?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

said, he had stated on the previous day that another battalion was being sent to Egypt. Of course, the disposition of the troops in Egypt was a matter entirely resting with the Military Authorities there.