HC Deb 20 March 1896 vol 38 cc1458-9
MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

On behalf of the hon. Member for the Scotland Division of Liverpool (Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR), I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if the military movement sanctioned by the British Government in Egypt was influenced by representations from the Italian Government; and, if so, whether he can state the nature of those representations consistently with public interests.

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

The decision of Her Majesty's Government was undoubtedly influenced by the communications received from the Italian Government as to the prospects of an attack by the Dervishes on the Italian position at Kassala, and the effect that this might have on the military situation and upon Egyptian interests. It would obviously not be desirable to state the exact purport of those communications.