HC Deb 05 May 1884 vol 287 cc1330-2
SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister what facilities he can afford me for bringing under the consideration of the House the Motion of which I have given Notice with respect to General Gordon?

MR. GLADSTONE

In consequence of the verbal Notice given by the right hon. Gentleman on Friday, in conjunction with my Colleagues I have con- sidered the matter. We are desirous—I will not enter into any remarks on the Motion now—but we are desirous to give the right hon. Gentleman the earliest open day. The arrangements for to-day and Thursday having been made, the earliest open day will be Monday next. I may say that, looking to the limited scope of the Motion, confined as it is to the conduct of the Government in regard to the mission of General Gordon, we trust the debate will be brought to a close on that evening. Should it not be brought to a close on the same day, we could, although very reluctantly, place Tuesday morning at the disposal of the right hon. Gentleman for the purpose of continuing the debate. It would be for him to consider whether he should make any arrangements for the Tuesday evening. I may add that that is the maximum of time that can possibly be given up by the Government to the Motion.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

I think it will be generally agreed that the House ought to have before it, before the debate, which, I understand, is to be commenced on Monday, all the information that Her Majesty's Government can possibly give in regard to the telegrams that have passed between General Gordon and Sir Evelyn Baring. I understood the noble Lord the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in answer to a Question on Friday, to divide these telegrams into three classes. The telegram of April 18 from General Gordon, and the reply of Sir Evelyn Baring, and certain other telegrams in regard to the alleged intention of General Gordon to visit the Mahdi, the noble Lord said would be laid on the Table to-day. And he said there were other telegrams since the 25th of March from Sir Evelyn Baring which would be laid in due course. There was a third series which he said it would be injurious to the public interests to lay. I should like to ask whether he will not arrange that all telegrams which can be published consistently with the public interests shall be laid on the Table at once? If the presentation of telegrams from Sir Evelyn Baring since the 25th of March be postponed until they be published in due course, we shall not see them for two months to come. I think the House will be anxious to have them before the debate next Monday.

MR. GLADSTONE

I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that it is desirable that the House should have these telegrams before the debate. When my noble Friend used the expression "in due course," he did not mean to say that their publication would be postponed for two months and reserved for another Blue Book. They will be laid on the Table during the present week, or at the earliest moment after.

SIR ALEXANDER GORDON

I beg to give Notice that when the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Gloucestershire brings forward his Motion I shall move, as an Amendment— That this House continues to place confidence in the general conduct of Business by Her Majesty's Government.