§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Proclamation has been issued by the Military Commanders at Suakin as to the intentions of the Egyptian Government towards the tribes; whether any terms have been made with the tribes in the neighbourhood of Suakin and Tokar, for the purposes of common action against the approach of hostile forces from Kassala; and whether at the fall of Afafite and Tokar, any prisoners were captured; and, if so, in what way they have been disposed of?
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the prisoners taken by the Egyptian force at the recent engagement at Tokar are to be deemed and treated as prisoners of war; whether these prisoners are to be detained; and whether it is intended to convey them to the place of their detention on any of Her Majesty's ships?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONA telegram has been received to the effect that a Proclamation has been issued by the Military Commander stating that the Egyptian Government has resumed its authority in the district about Tokar, calling on the tribes to repel the Dervishes, and granting amnesty to all except some notorious slave dealers; also that there is no intention of retiring from Tokar. Definite arrangements will not be made till the Sirdar has returned to Cairo. Of the prisoners taken 231 were released, and 300, including families considered dangerous, are for the present detained. Sir Francis Grenfell had ridden through the neighbouring country and had found it quiet and clear of Dervishes. The people were rejoiced at the re-appearance of Government in their neighbourhood.
§ MR. J. MORLEYMay I ask for particulars as to the detention of the prisoners? On a former occasion I believe many prisoners were taken away and sold as slaves.
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONI cannot give further particulars, but I have no reason to believe that the prisoners would be harshly treated. I know that after the engagement at Tosti, on the Nile, all who were not considered dangerous were allowed to return to their villages, or were given land in Lower Egypt, and that even when the Dervish prisoners were released they preferred to stay where they were.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREAre these men who have been "rightly struggling to be free" to be deported to Lower Egypt, and for what purpose has the amnesty decree been issued by the Khedive?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONI did not refer to those who had been "rightly struggling to be free," but to those who have been harrassing the country and raiding about Suakin.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREAm I to understand that these people are recognised as the inhabitants of the Soudan, a part of the country over which Egypt has abandoned all authority?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONThe hon. Gentleman is not to understand all that from my answer. I am not in a position to give more particulars than I have already given.
§ MR. J. MORLEYWhen will the right hon. Gentleman produce the Papers?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONI believe that the Papers on the subject are almost ready.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether an officer in Her Majesty's Service has been recommended for the Victoria Cross on account of his conduct at the recent engagement between the Egyptian forces and the forces of the Mahdi at Tokar; and whether, if so, there is any instance of an officer in Her Majesty's Service being recommended for the Victoria Cross on account of conduct in an encounter between the forces of two Powers with neither of which this country is at war?
§ *MR. E. STANHOPENo officer has been recommended for the Victoria Cross in connection with the recent engagement at Tokar.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any Egyptian troops, or any stores or ammunition for any Egyptian troops, 477 have been conveyed in any of Her Majesty's ships between any ports on the Red Sea?