§ MR. J. MORLEYMay I ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to furnish the House, in an authentic shape, with the information which, as he told us yesterday, induced the Government to approve of the advance into the Soudan?
MR. CURZONI will, with the permission of the House, read the exact text of the telegrams and of the Dispatch which constituted the authority for the first part of my statement yesterday afternoon. The first telegram was from Lord Cromer, dated February 24th:—
Osman Digna is, according to the information received, advancing into the Suakin district. Authorities at Suakin district have despatched messengers with a view to obtaining more precise information.The second telegram, also from Lord Cromer, is dated 26th February, and is as follows:—Last night I received information from Wady Haifa that merchants who had escaped from Berber nine days before had reported that a force of Dervishes 700 strong had been detailed for an attack on the Murad Wells. A second force of Dervishes has, according to our informants, been despatched to Kokreb and another larger force has left Omdurman for Dongola. Osman Digna has been sent to Kassala. Although I cannot vouch for the entire accuracy of these reports, it appears to be certain that some hostile movement having Kassala as its probable objective is in contemplation.The third telegram is dated 28th February, also from Lord Cromer, and is as follows:—The news reported in my telegram of the 26th inst. is confirmed by further trustworthy reports which had reached Suakin. Osman 1175 Digna issued proclamations to the local Arabs calling upon them to assemble by the 27th under penalties and to follow him. He then on the 16th proceeded to Jos Rejeb. Traders to Suakin from Berber are being stopped at Kokreb.Perhaps I may also be allowed to read an extract from a Dispatch received from Her Majesty's Consul at Suakin, which appears to be the foundation for the last telegram from Lord Cromer which I have just read. Her Majesty's Consul at Suakin writes on February 26 as follows:—After three years of almost complete quiescence there are again becoming noticeable signs of activity on the part of the Mahdist Bodawi under Osman Digna. For some months past rumours have continued to reach this place to the effect that Osman was contemplating a renewal of his old exploits, and in November last a patrol from Tokar actually encountered a raiding party of Dervishes, with whom they exchanged shots, killing one and wounding another. A small force was sent out from Tokar in pursuit of this band, but failed to come up with it. Last week news was brought in that some fifty or sixty Dervishes had appeared in the neighbourhood of Sinkat, and a patrol of 100 men of the Camel Corps, cavalry and police were under orders to proceed in quest of them, when further information was received showing that the Dervishes numbered 500 instead of 50, and were under the command of Moussa Digna. The despatch of the patrol was, therefore, countermanded as being inadequate, but before fresh measures could be concerted it was ascertained that Moussa Digna had fallen back on Adawara, whence Osman had hastily set out for Gos Rejeb—it is presumed to organise an attack on Kassala. To-day, however it is reported that a caravan from Berber has been stopped by the Dervishes at Kokreb and all its camels requisitioned for service, so that other movements may be in contemplation. It is also reported that the Khalifa Abdullah has proclaimed the Jehad against the Italians, and that his Mudir at Berber has ordered the suspension of all trade or traffic with the coast.This is the information and those were the telegrams and Dispatches which were the foundation of what I said in the earlier part of my statement yesterday. ["Hear, hear!]