§ Mr. GEORGE GOOCHasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can inform the House as to the causes and circumstances of the recent attack on the Mullah by a British force, in which 600 camels were recovered; and whether further operations are contemplated?
§ Colonel SEELYNo information has been received from the Commissioner as to any occurrence such as that alluded to in my hon. Friend's question, but he has been requested by telegraph to state what the facts are.
§ Mr. GEORGE GOOCHHas the hon. Gentleman seen Renter's telegram'?
§ Colonel SEELYWe have seen Reuter's telegram, but we have not received any confirmation of it from the Commissioner. It may be quite so, but we have not yet received any official confirmation. We have telegraphed to find out.
Sir GILBERT PARKERCan the hon. Gentleman say whether this recent engagement seems to express a more active policy on the part of His Majesty's Government, or whether they are still pursauing the purely defensive policy?
§ Colonel SEELYNo, it does not. Obviously if the hon. Gentleman had read the Renter's telegram he would see that it could not express a more active policy on the part of his Majesty's Government because it was stated that the camels were recovered. The use of that word indicates that the Mullah was the aggressor.