HC Deb 15 May 1884 vol 288 cc444-6
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether General Gordon was informed of the intended withdrawal of General Graham's force from Suakin to Cairo, and his opinion asked as to its expediency; and, if so, what answer General Gordon returned; and, whether General Graham was asked if an expedition to Berber was feasible in March; and, if so, what was his reply?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The Papers laid before Parliament, as I have repeatedly informed the hon. Member, contain a full statement of the communications with General Gordon, and there is nothing to add to them. The latter Question should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

In reply to the second of the hon. Member's Questions, I have to say that I think he will find in the Egyptian Papers, No. 12, that General Stephenson telegraphed on the 5th of March that he was not prepared to recommend General Graham's force marching to Berber, owing to the scarcity of water on the route. I referred to this subject generally in the observations I made on Tuesday last; and I explained, that, notwithstanding the opinion of General Stephenson, which I have quoted, operations were undertaken, from time to time, after the battle of Tamai, with the object of opening, if possible, the road to Berber; and I pointed out that the experience acquired in those operations satisfied us that we should not be justified in running what had been described by Sir Evelyn Baring, Sir Evelyn Wood, and General Stephenson the extraordinary military risk of sending a small force without any support from its base.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

said, that the noble Lord had not answered the Question on the Paper, which was whether General Graham was asked if an expedition to Berber was feasible, and if so, what was his reply? He wished also to ask whether it was not the fact that Sir Evelyn Baring, on the 18th and 24th March, telegraphed home that both General Stephenson and General Wood were of opinion that such a march was feasible?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

Yes; and that despatch was frequently referred to in the debate on both sides of the House. I can only remind the hon. Member that in stating their opinion that such an expedition was possible, they also spoke, at the same time, of the extraordinary military risk by which it would be accompanied. Under the circumstances which I have already explained in my answer to the hon. Member, and more at length on previous occasions, we did not think we should be justified in asking General Graham his opinion upon the feasibility of an expedition which we did not consider that we should be warranted in sanctioning.

SIR EDMUND LECHMERE

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, looking to the fact that the prompt announcement of an expedition to the Soudan at the earliest practicable opportunity might tend to ensure the safety of General Gordon, Her Majesty's Government will at once commence the required preparations, more especially by providing for the necessary steam transport on the Nile, so that it may be in readiness for the conveyance of troops and stores not later than July next?

MR. GLADSTONE

In answer to this Question I cannot do better or more than refer the hon. Member to the speech delivered the day before yesterday by my noble Friend the Secretary of State for War, in which he fully stated the intentions of the Government with respect to the various matters touched upon in the Question, and stated that it was not desirable to make any announcement on the matter.