HC Deb 20 March 1884 vol 286 cc309-10
MR. KENNARD (for Mr. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, If his attention has been called to the following statement of the Cairo Correspondent of The Siandard, which appeared in that paper on March 12th:— The state of Egypt is indeed causing apprehensions in every respect. Not only are crimes of violence largely on the increase, but the greatest difficulty is experienced in collecting the taxes. The absence of any fixed or settled Government is giving rise to intense and general discontent throughout the whole Administrative system. The steady downward movement towards chaos, which has been slowly going on for the last two years, is now proceeding at a terribly accelerated pace; further, to the statements made by General Gordon to the Correspondent of The Times, at Khartoum, on March 8th:— It is a certainty that the Mahdi will raise the tribes between Khartoum and Berber. This is not owing to disaffection, but to fear caused by the pronounced policy of the abandonment of the Soudan.… It is no longer a question of days, but of hour?; and, whether, in view of the gravity of the situation in Egypt and the Soudan, Her Majesty's Government will now proclaim a definite British Administration of Egypt, and appoint a British Governor General to restore order and good administration for the Soudan, in co-operation with the Sovereign Power?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

The Government have received no information which confirms the statement of the Correspondent referred to. With regard to the latter part of the Question, it is exactly the same as one which was put on the Paper on a former occasion by the hon. Member, and is one to which it is impossible for me to give any further answer than I have given on several occasions.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

Can the noble Lord give us any further information as to the state of affairs in Egypt, and especially with regard to the communication between Khartoum and Cairo?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

Telegraphic communication does not appear yet to have been restored, and it further appears that the district around Berber is more or loss disturbed. Sir Evelyn Baring stated a short time ago, that although the telegraph was cut, information would be able to reach General Gordon in two or throe days. We have not received from Sir Evelyn Baring anything modifying that statement.