HC Deb 10 April 1896 vol 39 cc674-5
MR. WILLIAM ALLEN (Newcastle-under-Lyme)

I beg to ask the Uader Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the negroes enlisted in the Egyptian Army for the Soudanese service, imposed on all the Egyptian Army, are enlisted by force; and whether the negroes lately taken for service in British East Africa are volunteers?

THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, Southport

The majority of the Soudanese troops in the Egyptian Army have enlisted voluntarily; but a certain number who were born in Egypt are conscripts, the conscription applying to them similarly with other natives. The Soudanese lately recruited for police service in British East Africa are volunteers.