§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he can now state when he expects to be in a position to make a general explanation of the policy of the Government in Egypt?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, I do not think that I have ever undertaken, either on my own behalf or on behalf of the Government, to make what is described by the right hon. Gentleman as a general explanation of the policy of the Government in Egypt. I have, it is true, referred in recent discussions to the financial question in Egypt, and to the question of the future military defences of Egypt; but I think it is evident that at present, at all events, it would be quite premature to attempt to express an opinion as to when the Government will be in a position to make a general statement on these two very important subjects. With regard to the Soudan, to the recommendations which have been made by General Gordon, to the instructions which hare been given to him by Her Majesty's Government, and to the position of General Gordon at Khartoum, we are at present very much in the same position as we were when we last discussed this question in the House. Owing to the interruption which has taken place in the telegraphic communication between Cairo and Khartoum, we have had no information from General Gordon up to a date later than that of our last discussion in this House, and we are not aware whether the most recent instructions from Her Majesty's Government have yet reached General Gordon. We stand, therefore, very much, with regard to all those questions of our policy in the Soudan, in the same position as we did when we discussed the subject at some length last Saturday week. What I said then holds good, therefore, now—that any statement which I could make on these subjects would only be a partial statement, and could not possibly be a complete one, and, being a partial statement, would in my opinion be both misleading and 602 Prejudicial to the public service. I have already stated that, as regards the question of our policy in the Soudan, we are desirous to make communications fully to the House of our position as soon as we are in a condition to do so; but until we have further information as to the cause and the extent of the interruptions in the communication between Cairo and Khartoum, I am afraid it is not possible for me to inform the right hon. Gentleman when I hope it will be in the power of the Government to make any further statement on these subjects. I hope, however, to be able to make some statement to the House before it adjourns for the Easter holidays. Whether that will be a complete one or not does not lie in my power at the present moment to say.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI will repeat the Question on Monday. In the meantime, I shall be glad to know whether the noble Marquess can give us any further information with regard to General Gordon? Some information seems to have been received since the discussion referred to; and we shall be glad to know whether the Government have been able to give General Gordon the assurances which he expects?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, the last information which has reached us from General Gordon was dated Thursday, the 13th of this month. It contained an account, substantially the same as appeared in the newspapers, of the relief of the garrison of Halfiyeh, near Khartoum, which appears to have fallen. That is almost all the information which we have received since the last discussion in this House. As to the last part of the right hon. Gentleman's Question, I think I can hardly give any information respecting the assurances which General Gordon seems to have expected without going into matters to which I have already adverted.