§ SIR FREDERICK MILNERasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If Her Majesty's Government will take steps to let the garrison of Kassala know the determination of the Government to abandon them, in order that they may make such terms as are possible with their savage assailants, and thus save themselves and the inhabitants of the town from the indiscriminate slaughter that must necessarily ensue if the town be taken by storm?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEOn the 4th of February last Sir Evelyn Baring and General Stephenson advised that the Governor of Kassala should be informed that no Expedition, English or Egyptian, could be sent to Kassala, and that he must judge for himself whether to try to make his way down to the coast or come to terms with the rebels. Colonel Chermside, on February 7, proposed to inform the Governors of Kassala and Sanheit to arrange as they might deem best for their garrisons terms with the Abyssinians or the rebels. Colonel Chermside also proposed to inform King John that any proposals emanating from Kassala had his concurrence. These proposals were approved on February 7.
MR. ASHMEAD-BAERTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Ministers intend to take steps to relieve the besieged garrison of Kassala and the 20,000 inhabitants of that town, now hard pressed by famine; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Ministers will permit the Sultan of Turkey, who is Sovereign of Egypt, to send Ottoman troops to save the garrison and people of Kassala from massacre and slavery?
LORD EDMOND FITZMAUEICEIn a previous answer I have already replied to the first part of this Question. Her Majesty's Government have several times suggested that the Sultan should resume the direct administration of the Red Sea littoral, but without success. There is no reason to suppose that His Majesty has any wish to take measures for the relief of Kassala.
MR ASHMEAD-BAETLETTwished to know whether it was not a fact that the Khedive, 15 months ago, asked Her Majesty's Ministers to allow him to appeal for help to his Sovereign the Sultan of Turkey to assist him in relieving the garrisons, and was refused permission; and at what period since that appeal was made had it been suggested that the Sultan should be asked to relieve the garrisons?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEsaid, the answer was in the Papers which had already been laid before the House.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked, whether he was to understand that the Government were unwilling to take any steps for the relief of Kassala?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEsaid, he had given a very full reply to the hon. Gentleman's Question.
§ Afterwards—
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, that in answer to a Question which he had put earlier in the evening as to relieving the besieged garrison of Kassala, he had received from the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs an answer which did not appear to him dear or satisfactory. He, therefore, begged to ask the Prime Minister, if he would be so good as to state whether Her Majesty's Government could not take some steps to relieve the garrison at Kassala?
MR. GLADSTONEI believe the hon. Gentleman refers to some employment which he proposes of the Forces of General Graham; and as my noble Friend has already stated the object with which that Force is to be employed I could not undertake to make any addition to his statement.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked, whether he understood the right hon. Gentleman to mean that the Government were not going to make any effort whatever to relieve the garrison?