HC Deb 06 March 1884 vol 285 cc673-4
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

rose to put a Question to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs without Notice, which he supposed he would be anxious to answer at once. As some people were ready to believe anything, he wished to know, Whether there was any truth in the statement contained in a telegram that had appeared in a newspaper of that morning, that a Proclamation had been jointly issued by Admiral Hewett and General Graham, in which they asked the Sheikhs to come in and meet them at Suakin? The alleged Proclamation stated— You have already been warned that the English Forces have come here, not only to relieve the garrison of Tokar, but to redress the wrongs under which you have so long suffered; nevertheless, you have gone on trusting that notorious scoundrel, Osman Digna, well known to you as a bad man, his former life in Suakin having proved that to be the case. He has led you away with the foolish idea that the Mahdi has come on earth. After some theological references, the alleged Proclamation went on to say— Your people are brave, and England always respects such men. Awake, then, chase Osman Digna from your country. We promise you that protection and pardon shall be granted to all who come in at once, otherwise the fate of those who fell at El Teb shall surely overtake you.

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I am afraid that I shall disappoint my hon. Friend when I say that I think Notice ought to be given of the Question. I may further point out to him that the Question ought not, I think, properly to be addressed to the Foreign Office. I understand it to apply to the War Office and the Admiralty.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

I beg to give Notice that to-morrow I shall put the same Question to the Secretary of State for War.