HC Deb 24 April 1885 vol 297 cc793-4

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."

MR. MONTAGU SCOTT

Before the House adjourns I wish to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary. There is a very general impression throughout the House and the country that there might be an addition made to the information conveyed to the House by the Prime Minister this evening. I wish to ask whether any further information has been received beyond that which the Prime Minister laid before the House, that the Chairgé d'Affaires of France at Cairo had left?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I have nothing further to add.

MR. MONTAGU SCOTT

May I take it that the information was correct, and that the whole telegram was conveyed to the House from the Foreign Office this afternoon?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I do not quite catch the hon. Member's observation. We have no knowledge—at least I have none—which would induce us to modify in any respect the statement made by the Prime Minister.

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

Has the French Chargé d'Affaires left Cairo?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

My reply must be that I have nothing to say to modify what the Prime Minister said earlier in the evening.

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

Has no other Member of the Government any information to give to the House? The statement was that the French Chargé d'Affaires had left Cairo; is that correct?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I have no further answer to give.

MR. MONTAGU SCOTT

May I ask whether the telegram received by the Foreign Office this afternoon was not to the effect that the Chargé d'Affaries had left a note with the Khedive or Nubar Pasha stating that France retired from the Convention?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I must entirely decline to state the contents of a telegram which I have not in my hands. In matters of this importance it is the duty of everybody to be extremely careful in stating facts, and I must decline to make any further answer.

MR. ONSLOW

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether there was not a mistake made when the Prime Minister read the telegram about half-past 5 o'clock to-day?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I think not.

MR. ONSLOW

The Prime Minister distinctly stated then that Sir Evelyn Baring had sent a telegram stating that the Chargé a'Affaires had left Cairo. Of course, the right hon. Gentleman has not the telegram in his pocket; but can he say whether there was any mistake?

SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT

I believe there was no mistake at all in what the Prime Minister said. At all events, I have nothing to add or to modify.

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at half after One o'clock till Monday next.