§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Egyptian Government have applied to Her Majesty's Government to reinforce with British troops the Egyptian garrison at Suakin; whether any British force will be landed at Suakin without the direct previous sanction of Her Majesty's Government; and, whether any communications have passed between Her Majesty's Government and that of the Khedive as to the permanent retention of Suakin by the latter?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Her Majesty's Government, after being informed of the arrangements contemplated for repelling the attacks on Suakin, offered to the Egyptian Government the assistance of a certain number of British troops, who will only be used for operations in the immediate neighbourhood of the town. This offer has been gratefully accepted, and it is a temporary arrangement. No communications have passed as to the permanent retention of Suakin between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Khedive.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYProbably it was through inadvertence: but the right hon. Gentleman has not answered the first paragraph of my Question—namely, whether the Egpytian Government have applied to Her Majesty's Government to reinforce with British troops the Egyptian garrison at Suakin?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHCommunications have certainly passed between the Egyptian Government and Her Majesty's Government.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI am very sorry to press the right hon. Gentleman; but perhaps he will tell the House whether these communications were initiated by the Egyptian Government?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHNo, Sir; they were not.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)How long is this arrangement, which the right hon. Gentleman describes as temporary, likely to last? I assume that British troops are to take part in the engagements which may take place in the neighbourhood of Suakin?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI cannot foresee what the result of the arrangement may be. There is no doubt in our minds that it will be successful. I have stated accurately to the House all the circumstances of the case. It is impossible for me to look into the future.
MR. T. P. CONNORThe right hon. Gentleman says he is not able to foresee. Are we to contemplate a repetition of what occurred on a former occasion, when the Egyptians were defeated and a large massacre of Arab troops took place?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHCertainly not. You are not to contemplate anything of the kind. It is the duty of the Government to see that an operation of this kind is successfully carried out, if it is necessary it should be carried out, and they take the responsibility.
§ MR. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.)asked, what was the amount of the force to be sent to Suakin; and whether there was any truth in the statement that troops from India had been stopped on their way home with a view to the operations contemplated?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThere is no truth in the statement at all. I am not able to say definitely; but I believe they will consist of a battalion from Cairo.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYMay we expect any Papers on this subject?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIf the right hon. Gentleman will repeat his Question on Thursday there will be no objection to answer it.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked, who was to pay for the operations.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHPerhaps the hon. Gentleman would give Notice of the Question.