§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the statements in The Daily News of the 22nd, made by one of General Gordon's Egyptian soldiers, and especially to the following passages:—
There were several white women when I left, daughters of Europeans by Abyssinian wives. There were two or three ladies at the Austrian Consul's. Gordon always said, 'The English are coming;'All the white and all the black women are now made slaves. My poor wife, I shall never see her again. When I say white I mean also those whose mothers were Abyssinian and fathers European, and there were some Turkish ladies who were the achmet, wives of officers; all will now be slaves;and, whether, before leaving the Soudan, he will directly authorise the General now in command at Dongola to try to ransom these unfortunate victims?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer the Question of the hon. Gentleman. My attention has been called to the statement, and I have telegraphed to Lord Wolseley inquiring whether by reference to the soldier referred to or by any other means he can obtain any fur- 491 ther information as to the statements quoted, and whether if there appears to be any foundation for them it would be in his opinion possible immediately to effect the release of these women either by ranson or otherwise.