* THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI desire to ask the noble Marquess three questions relative to the proposed expedition, which we are now told is not an expedition to Dongola but somewhere else, of which I have given him private notice. They are questions—which questions are not always—asked really for information and for no other purpose, and therefore I will accompany them by no remarks even if I were in order in doing so. The three questions are these—whether the forward movement of the Egyptian Army is made at the instance of the Egyptian Government; whether any Report later than that signed on February 3rd has been received from Lord Cromer with regard to the attitude of the Dervishes; and whether the telegrams on the subject of their advance can be communicated to this House? I am quite sure that if the noble Marquess would give any expressions of opinion from Lord Cromer as to the whole policy, that would be additionally helpful; but I did not give him notice of that.
THE PRIME MINISTER (The Marquess of SALISBURY)My Lords,—We have received several communications from the authorities in Egypt on this subject, much later in date than the date which the noble Lord has named. The military authorities, with Lord Cromer's approval, recommended an advance towards the Dervishes for the purpose of checking them and for the purpose of helping to relieve Kassala, their opinion being it would be a very great 1114 evil if Kassala fell into the hands of the Dervishes. After that expression of opinion there was considerable communication both with the Egyptian authorities and also with the Italian Government, and the Instructions which Her Majesty's Government have given, have been the result of the consideration of all those communications. I am afraid I cannot gratify the noble Lord by giving him the telegrams. I looked them over just before I came down, and they deal much with military considerations, with the military proceedings of the Dervishes, and the future military conduct proposed for the Egyptian troops. It is obvious that these are not matters which can properly be laid on your Lordships' Table. The conduct of military operations, after submission to a preliminary Parliamentary discussion, would, no doubt, be a very satisfactory addition to our Debates, but it is an innovation which I cannot recommend.
* THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI only asked for the telegrams because they were more or less promised to the House of Commons last night. I find myself in the unusual position of being a champion of the privileges of your Lordships' House against the noble Marquess, and I can only beg that if the telegrams are given to the House of Commons they will equally and simultaneously be given to us. [The Marquess of SALISBURY: "Certainly."] May I remind the noble Marquess that he has not answered my question about the Egyptian Government?
THE PRIME MINISTERYes, I said the Egyptian Government had represented to us the dangers attaching to the advance of the Dervishes. Of course I do not bind myself to say that the instructions we have given after all this consideration precisely correspond with the original suggestions of the Egyptian Government, but I think they are similar in this, that they recommend an advance towards the Dervishes for the purpose of checking them, and for the purpose of relieving Kassala.
* THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI think that originally the noble Marquess said, "the military authorities, with the approval of Lord Cromer."
THE PRIME MINISTERI am not in communication with the Egyptian Government. I presume all Lord Cromer 1115 does, he does with the knowledge of the Egyptian Government. I am only in communication with Lord Cromer.