§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that on the 5th June 1883, Hicks Pasha telegraphed to Sir Evelyn Wood to the following effect:—
The Government has been asked to send 5,000 more troops to Khartoum. These can only be collected by dragging unwilling men from their fields and homes, and sending them away in chains, and these men are to be taken at once before an enemy, having been previously in no way organised; and with what kind of officers. Of course I can have no reliance whatever on them. Will you send me instead four battalions of your new army, and I shall be content. They could return in six months. Fifty-one men of the Krupp Battery deserted on the way, although in chains;whether he is aware that Sir Evelyn Wood replied to the following effect:—You are not aware of our position. It is impossible to comply with the request;whether Sir Evelyn Wood's reply was in any way due to communications to him by Sir Edward Malet, as to the probability of an early withdrawal of Her Majesty's troops from Cairo; and, if he can explain why these telegrams were 344 not included in the Papers presented to Parliament?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEHer Majesty's Government is not aware of the telegraphic communications mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman. I have the authority of Sir Edward Malet to state that if Sir Evelyn. Wood in June last sent the answer quoted, it was not in consequence of any communication made by him as to the probability of an early withdrawal from Cairo, as no such communication passed.