§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign 1695 Affairs whether the district of Tokar is situated in Egypt or in the Soudan; and if the latter, by what right the Egyptian Government claims authority over it, in view of the fact that it gave up absolutely all sovereignty over the whole of the Soudan with the exception of the Port of Suakin; and whether it is intended to organise a civil Egyptian Government in Tokar, and to maintain an Egyptian garrison there; and, if so, will he cause a map to be placed in the Tea Room, with the frontiers of the newly-annexed territory indicated thereon?
§ Sir J. FERGUSSONTokar is in the Eastern Soudan. When Egypt, under the advice of Her Majesty's Government, withdrew its troops from the Soudan, it did not abandon the sovereignty of the country. An Egyptian garrison will be maintained in Tokar. There is no newly-annexed territory to be defined on a map.
MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-uponTyne)I beg to ask the Under secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government can lay Papers before Parliament containing the communications that have passed with the Government of the Khedive on the permanent occupation of Tokar and other places in the Soudan beyond Suakin?
§ Sir J. FERGUSSONPapers on the subject will be included in an early issue.
MR. J. MORLEYHas the permanent occupation of Tokar received the assent of Her Majesty's Government?
§ Sir J. FERGUSSONI stated the other night in answer to a question by the right hon. Gentleman that no final Resolution has been come to, but that there is every reason to believe that the occupation of Tokar will be permanent.
MR. J. MORLEYThe right hon. Gentleman stated the other night, in answer to a question from me, that nothing had yet been settled. All I want to know is whether a decision permanently to occupy Tokar has received the assent of Her Majesty's Government?
§ Sir J. FERGUSSONThe matter stands in the same position now. No final decision has been come to, but the circumstances remain as they were then described.