The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-09 00:00:00

GENERAL GORDON.

The House then went into Committee of Supply, and
Mr. Gladstone moved the Vote of Credit of £300,000
to enable the Government to undertake operations for
the relief of General Gordon. At the outset he re-
minded the House of the pledges which the Govern-
ment had given at various times, esr 3cially of the pro-
mise of Lord Hartington, to undertake military mea-
sures for the rescue of General Gordon if they should
be demanded for his safety, and he then canvassed the
conflicting reports which have appeared in the papers as
to the position of Khartoum since we ceased to have
any official communication with him. The general
conclusion he drew was that the contingency con,
templated by Lord Hartington, when military measures
would be necessary, had not yet arisen, but it might
arise during the recess, and the object of the v9te.wls
to put the Government in a position to meet it if it
occurred while Parliament was not sitting. It was also
desirable to make certain preparations, the nature of
which he thought it advisable not to state.. 'pie vote,
he added in conclusion, was one rather of principle than
an exact estimate
_of the sum which would be recpured,

,

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and under cover of it the Governmlnt would be able to
undertake whatever measures might be necessary.
Mr. Labouchere opposed the vote, arguing that Gen.
Gordon was disobeying instructions by remaining at
Khartoum, and that the expense of his relief should fall
on the Egyptian Government.
Mr. Bourke said that though the vote was tardy he
would give it his cordial support, and more especially
because from the very beginning of General Gordon's
mission he had always predicted that a costly expedi-
tion would be necessary for his relief.
Sir W. Lawson objected to the vote, being opposed
to the policy of " smashing " everybody, and prefer to
vote L 300,000 to the Mandi to put down General
Gordon. If he was a Christian hero he ought not to
require mil:tory operations to relieve him.
Mr. Ashmead Bartlett severely criticised the deal-
ings of the Government with General Gordon, and
accused them of concealing the true facts from the
House.
In the course of further discussion, Sir S. Northcote
denied that the Opposition had in any way made them-
selves responsible for General Gordon's mission, though
they had always wished him well, and had been of
opinion that he had not been adequately supported by
the Government. He complained that Ministers had
given no indication of what the contingency was
which would call for operations, and accepted the vote
as one of principle which committed the Government
to the relief of General Gordon irrespective of the cost.
Eventually the vote was carried on a division by 174
to 14.

_
The Committee then proceeded with the ordinary
votes in Class IV.
The vote for the Irish Education was canvassed until
past midnight, and among the subjects discussed
were the inadequate salaries of the National school
teachers, the model schools, the salaries of the Dublin
Office, &c.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House
adjourned at ten minutes past two o'clock.