§ SIR W. LAWSONAt the commencement of this sitting I gave notice that before the House rose for the day I would ask the Secretary for War a question relating to the operations now being carried on upon the Nile. A few days ago, when I asked a question, the right hon. Gentleman said that all the information he had would be communicated to the newspapers; but the newspapers do not exactly coincide in their accounts. I do think that when such operations are being carried on it is only fair that the House of Commons, which finds the money and dictates the policy, should be authoritatively informed about the operations themselves. Everybody must be distressed at the horrible news in the papers this morning. It is stated that the camp of the enemy has been entered and found abandoned, and that in it there were several men, women, and children who were dying of exhaustion. Then it is stated that these people are being kept from the river, and they are suffering agonies from thirst. After killing many thousands in actual warfare, you are, in this manner, delivering others to death. It is stated, in a telegram in the Times, that the Egyptian forces, which are really ours, are destroying the food of the people of the district, and that this is good policy. I have been told that even Mahomedan forces would not do that; they would not destroy the food of the people of the district. I think the House has a right to know exactly what is going on. It is also stated that a number of British troops have been ordered up. We appear to be having a repetition of 58 Soudan horrors that were a disgrace to this country. I hope the House will be informed distinctly what is taking place, and what is the policy of the Government in regard to the Soudan.
§ MR. WOODALL (Hanley)May I ask whether, especially remembering the horrors and discomforts our troops suffered at Assouan at this season of the year on a previous occasion, we may be assured that the huts and other expensive provisions made for their comfort still remain in a proper condition?
§ THE SEOEETAEY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorneastleI should like to remind the House what are the conditions under which we are at present keeping troops in Egypt. One of them undoubtedly is that this country gave a pledge to the Government of Egypt to assist in the defence of the Egyptian frontier, if it were necessary to defend it. What has happened? A horde of dervishes are trying to make war on the north of Egypt. What is their object? It is to overrun Egypt, to devastate that country, and to send back its prosperity for many years. It is our plain duty to assist the Army of Egypt and the Government of Egypt in defending the frontier of that country, which we assisted it in establishing. That being so, I do not think the House will be at all surprised to hear that those who are our responsible officials in Egypt represent it as absolutely necessary that the force which is in Egypt, and which is necessary for the support of the Egyptian Army, should be increased. We have to take the matter into our grave consideration, with the view of deciding what it may be necessary to do. I do not wish to state now any particular step it may be necessary to take. I will simply say that the rumours referred to in the newspapers are not accurate in detail. I may be able to state to-morrow what steps the Government think it necessary to take. [An hon. MEMBER: You referred us to the newspapers.] I referred the House to the newspapers to this extent—I said that matters of importance in our telegrams which we thought it necessary the House should 59 know we would furnish promptly to the newspapers; and that we will continue to do. I regret, just as much as the hon. Member for Hanley, the necessity for sending British troops up the river at this season. It is a lamentable thing, and I am afraid I am not in a position to say what is the condition of the huts and other appliances. I reserve any exact statement of what we intend to do.
§ MR. WOODALLThe right hon. Gentleman will doubtless make inquiries, and inform the House on this point when he makes his statement.
§ MR. STANHOPEI will give the House all the information I can on the subject.
§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly notice that portion of the hon. Baronet's remarks as to the manner in which these warlike operations are being carried on. We have heard of certain barbarous modes of slaughtering these people. We are told they are being kept away from the water and thus being driven to a cruel death. We are also told that the crops in the district are being destroyed. We have been informed that this mode of warfare is considered unlawful even among comparatively savage tribes. I wish to have some information on this subject, because the honour of the nation is at stake.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON, Manchester, N.E.)I have to remind the House that it is open to these dervishes to return to the place from whence they came. If they persist in attempting to overrun Egypt, it is necessary that we should resist invasion by any means in our power, by removing the means of subsistence in advance of them, or in any other way. I should like to tell the House what the dervishes do. In the month of May they seized a port on the Red Sea, and they massacred every man, woman, and child in the place. In pressing forward they are forcing the villagers on their route into their service, and pushing them to 60 the front to bear the brunt of the attack. They are enemies of the human race, and it is our plain duty to offer assistance to the Government of Egypt in resisting their attack, and in protecting the peaceable people of Egypt from its consequences. Those who are responsible must use all the means in their power for that purpose.
MR. JOHN E. ELLIS (Notts, Rushcliffe)The right hon. Gentleman has used some words, "any means in our power," which have, I think, surprised the greater number of his hearers. I am not familiar with the operations of warfare; but I certainly did understand that now-a-days civilized warfare had its rules and regulations, and for the Under Secretary for Forign Affairs to get up in the House of Commons and tell us we are entitled to stop these men by any means in our power seems most extraordinary. I also wish to add my protest against the House of Commons being referred to the newspapers for information. It is entirely unprecedented for the Minister for War, who is bound to give the House accurate and full information as to the manner in which military operations are being carried on, to take this course, and I hope it is the last time we shall have this done.
§ MR. E. STANHOPEIt was only to expedite the circulation of information to hon. Members and the public that I offered to communicate items from Government telegrams to the newspapers rather than keep them back until I had the opportunity of reading them in the House. When my right hon. Friend spoke of our resisting invasion by any means in our power he only alluded to any means that are ordinarily recognised as being within civilized warfare
§ SIR W. LAWSONI will ask a question to-morrow as to the condition of our forces on the Nile.
§ House adjourned at ten minutes before Six o'clock.