§ MR. ATHERLEY-JONES (Durham, N.W.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is aware that Mr. Wylde, who has been forbidden to land at Suakin, is an owner of property there, and has carried on business as a merchant in that town for the past 14 years, and has advocated the 436 peaceful solution of the Soudan difficulty by means of negotiation with the tribes; and that in the 1884 and 1885 Campaigns, and during Sir William Hewett's Mission to Abyssinia, he rendered valuable service to the authorities, for which he received the thanks of the Imperial and Egyptian Governments; and, whether he could state on what grounds Mr. Wylde is excluded when other correspondents are admitted?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Mr. Wylde has not been positively excluded. Sir Francis Grenfell has expressed an opinion that his presence would be embarrassing; and Mr. Wylde has been warned that if Sir Francis Grenfell feels it necessary to exclude him Her Majesty's Government could not undertake to interfere with the discretion of the officer commanding, who is responsible for the defence of the town.