§ MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to a passage in the Overland Times of Ceylon, which states that—
Mr. T. J. Lipton left for China to-day in the P. and O. s.s. 'Thames,' and said good-bye to Arabi Pasha before he went on board, but later on Arabi went out to the 'Thames.' We believe this is the first time Arabi has been, afloat since he has been in the Island";whether this was the first time on which Arabi Pasha, during his imprisonment, has been allowed to leave-the Island; and whether, considering that he has shown no inclination to abuse any extra privileges accorded to-him, it would be possible to mitigate or to put an end to his imprisonment in Ceylon?
§ MR. CONWAY (Leitrim, N.)I rise to a point of Order, Sir. I beg to ask you whether my hon. Friend is justified in asking a question arising out of solicitude for an unfortunate exile, in allowing such question to be made the medium for a vulgar advertisement, Mr. Lipton being the well-known advertising tradesman?
§ MR. SPEAKERNo point of Order arises.
§ MR. COXMay I ask is it not the fact that Arabi Pasha has only twice, during the time of his detention, been 45 out of Colombo because of his inadequate allowance?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. DE WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethQuestions on this subject should be addressed to the Foreign Office; the Colonial Office knows nothing about these matters.