§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he will empower Admiral Sir "William Hewett, now commanding at Suakin, to offer a ransom, for the release of the wives and families of the Commandant and the garrison of Sinkat, who have been sold into slavery by Osman Digna; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will lay upon the Table the instructions already issued upon this subject?
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked whether the Government had received any authentic information that the wives and families of the garrison of Sinkat had been sold into slavery?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I think that the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs answered this Question a few days ago. ["No."] We have called the attention of General Graham to the subject referred to, and have asked him whether it is possible to do anything for the release of the wives and families of these soldiers by ransom or otherwise. In reply to the hon. Baronet, I have to say that we have received no authentic information on the subject.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTIn consequence of the reply of the noble Lord, I will ask the noble Lord tomorrow whether it has not been stated to General Graham, by Egyptian solders who were survivors of the garrison at Sinkat, that 200 women and children have been carried off by Osman Digna?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I cannot state exactly, but I be have it was reported that a certain number of women and children had been taken to the mountains, though whether they are in a state of slavery or not I cannot say.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of t he Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the following statements attributed to General Gordon by The Times correspondent at Khartoum:—
There is a certainty that the emissaries of the Mahdi will succeed in raising the tribes between this (Khartoum) and Berber. This is not owing to disaffection, but to fear caused by the pronounced policy of the abandonment of the Soudan. We cannot blame them for rising when no definite sign is shown of establishing a permanent government here. …. Be sure of one thing. If Her Majesty's Government do not act promptly. General Graham's victory will go for nought, and with the useless expenditure of blood the effect of it will evaporate. I du not be have we shall send any more telegrams, for it is no longer a question of days, but of hours;and, whether, in view of these grave statements, Her Majesty's Government will reconsider their orders for the abandonment of Khartoum, and will, in co-operation with the Sovereign Power, authorize the establishment of a civilized government in that region under efficient British supervision?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I was under the impression that the subject referred to in this Question had been dealt with in the debate on Saturday. I hardly expected that the hon. Member would renew the Question. It 43 is not possible for me, or for any other Member of the Government, to give any further information on the subject at present.
§ MR. ASHMEAD- BARTLETTI have again to ask the noble Lord wether he will reply to the last paragraph of this Question." [Cries of No!"] I can assure the noble Lord that there was no statement in the course of the debate on Saturday which would furnish a reply to that paragraph.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI may say now, with reference both to this Question and the succeeding one, which stands in the name of the hon. Member for Greenwich (Baron Henry De Worms), that I stated on Saturday that I was in communication with Sir Evelyn Baring on the subject of the intelligence received from General Gordon at Khartoum and the proposal which had been made by him, and that undoubtedly I would make a statement on the subject as soon as it was possible to consult him; but I think it would be detrimental to the Public Service to make a statement now.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI wish to ask whether the communication with Khartoum is now open? We were informed the other night that the telegraph was interrupted.
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe last news we have is that the telegraph is only open as far as Shendy, and that there is still an interruption in the telegraphic communication with Khartoum.
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government have yet arrived at any decision with regard to the proposal that Zebehr Pasha should succeed General Gordon as Governor of Khartoum; and, whether, in view of the strong condemnation which has been expressed of the suggestion that the people of the Soudan should be placed under the rule of that notorious slave driver, Her Majesty's Government will give the House ail opportunity of expressing their opinion on the subject before such an appointment is made?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI am afraid I gave the only answer I could. In answering the previous Question of the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett), I referred to the Question placed on the Paper by the 44 hon. Member opposite, and the answer which I gave is the only one I am capable of giving at present.
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked, whether the noble Lord would answer the last part of his Question, as to whether the House would have an opportunity of expressing their opinion before an appointment was made?
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFdesired to ask a Question of which he had not been able to give the noble Lord Notice—namely, whether there was any truth in the telegrams of to-day stating that Admiral Hewett had issued a Proclamation offering a reward for the capture of Osman Digna alive or dead; whether that Proclamation had boon issued with the previous or the subsequent sanction of Her Majesty's Government; and whether, in case this should load to the private assassination of Osman Digna, Her Majesty's Government were prepared to pay the reward out of the funds of the British taxpayer?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIn reply to the further Question of the hon. Member for Greenwich (Baron Henry De Worms), I have only to say that I have undertaken that a full statement shall be made by the Government on this subject at the earliest possible moment. I do not think I am able to add to that. In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Portsmouth (Sir H. Drummond Wolff), I saw this morning a statement made in the newspapers that a Proclamation of this character had been issued by Admiral Hewett and General Graham. I at once communicated with my noble Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty on the subject, and I found that he had already despatched a telegram asking Admiral Hewett whether it was true that such a Proclamation had been issued, and pointing out to him that Proclamations of such a character ought not to he put forth without communication with Sir Evelyn Baring. I ought, perhaps, to say, in justice to Admiral Hewett and General Graham, that I observe that the reports in the newspapers do not altogether agree as to the exact terms of the Proclamation said to have been issued.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFsaid, he should like to ask whether, even with the concurrence of Sir Evelyn Baring, such a Proclamation should be issued; 45 whether such a Proclamation should he issued under any circumstances; and, whether the Government would withdraw it at once?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONWhat I intended to point out was that Proclamations of a political character such as this is ought not to be issued without the previous sanction of the vernment. Sir Evelyn Baring, on any important subject of this sort, would communicate with Her Majesty's Government.