HC Deb 30 April 1885 vol 297 cc1125-6
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the long and heroic defence of Khartoum by its inhabitants under General Gordon, he will lay before Parliament the evidence on which he grounded the statement made by him— We have no reason to suppose that any very considerable body ever attached them- selves to him, and we have no reason to suppose that the general population of Khartoum—though I have no doubt that some of his immediate adherents may—have suffered in consequence of what has taken place; and, whether he can also give any evidence in disproof of the repeated statements of survivors of the garrison and others, to the effect that thousands of the loyal inhabitants of Khartoum were massacred by the Mahdi's forces, and that the women and children who survived were sold into slavery?

MR. GDADSTONE

I think this Question refers exclusively to a matter which, when I made a speech on the subject, I described as matter of argument and opinion. I have stated my opinion, and the hon. Member can state his; but it appears to me that to enter into the subject in reply to a Question would really be to introduce purely debatable matter into this department of our Business.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

said, that as the right hon. Gentleman, as First Minister of the Crown, had made a statement of this sort considerably derogating from the services of General Gordon, he would ask him whether he would lay on the Table of the House Papers in support of his statement?

MR. GLADSTONE

I entirely differ from the hon. Gentleman as to the preamble of his Question; and as to his request I cannot comply with it.