HC Deb 20 March 1884 vol 286 cc308-9
MR HEALY

asked, Whether a counter-proclamation, withdrawing the reward of £1,000 offered for the body of Osman Digna, dead or alive, has been issued; if so, what are its terms; and, if the Government can give any assurance that Copies of the Document have been circulated as widely as the original offer of a reward?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I have received information that another Proclamation has been issued withdrawing the former, but I do not know in what terms.

SIR WILFEID LAWSON

I should like to ask the noble Lord whether he has made any inquiry into the details of the taking of the lives of Admiral Hewett's two messengers, and whether the taking of those lives was the cause of the Proclamation?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

It will not be necessary to make any inquiry on the subject, because, independently of that statement of Admiral Hewett, the Government thought it necessary to cause that Proclamation to be withdrawn.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

If the first Proclamation should result in a bringing in of the head of the murdered Osman Digna, will General Graham be compelled to pay the reward which he offers, and will the Government reimburse him, as they gave him a discretion for which he would then have to pay?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I think it is impossible for me to give an answer to a hypothetical Question of that kind.

MR. HEALY

The noble Lord has not answered the second part of the Question.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I have given all the information that we have. A Proclamation has been issued with drawing the former one; but in what way it has been circulated, or in what terms it has been couched, I do not know.

MR. HEALY

said, he would repeat the Question on Monday.

MR. O'DONNELL

Is it not a fact that no notice or mention whatever has been made of a counter-Proclamation by any of the newspaper correspondents?

[No answer was given to this Question.]