§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is true that Arabi Pasha, who is detained at Colombo, has complained that the climate there is injuring his health; and, whether the Government will consider the advisability of removing Arabi to a more suitable country, or of letting him go home to Egypt?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONWe have not received any complaint from Arabi Pasha that the climate is injuring his health. Her Majesty's Government cannot undertake to press the Government of Egypt to allow him to return there, as they believe that his presence in Egypt would be inconsistent with the public interests.
§ MR. W. REDMONDMight I ask whether the Government intended that this unfortunate gentleman should be in exile for the whole of his life?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONI am not in a position to give an answer to that question.
§ MR. W. REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is not a feeling widely prevalent in Egypt that it would tend greatly to the restoration of good order and good government in that country if Arabi were allowed to return?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!