The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-04-25 00:00:00

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, April 21, Lord Granville
made a statement as to the policy of her Majesty's
Ministers.

VOTE OF CREDIT.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS Mr. Gladstone, in laying
on the table a Vote of Credit for eleven millions, ex-
plained that circumstances with which the House was
acquainted had obliged the Government since February
to widen their iovestigations and enlarge their demands.
They had found it necessary to review our military
position with reference not only to the Soudan, but to
the general condition of public affairs, and to all
possible demands upon our military resources. They ,
felt that it was necessary at the present moment to
hold all those resources, as far as possible, and including
the forces in the Soudan, available for service wherever
they might be required. Therefore the Vote for which
he asked did not include the provision of money for
further offensive operations in the Soudan, or for mili-
tary preparations, with a view to an early advance
upon Khartoum. It did, however, include items
having reference to such contracts or under-
takings as, having been already considerably
advanced, could not be stopped with appreciable
advantage, and at the same time did not involve
the necessity for hostile action, such as river steamboats
and the Wady Haifa Railway. As to ulterior steps
beyond these, the Government reserved their entire
liberty of action, subject to the discretion and control
of Parliament; but what he had said about the Soudan
did not imply any change of view or intention
as to the defence of Egypt and its frontier. Here the
right hon. gentleman repeated that the Vote did not
ask for any provision of money for further offensive
operations in the Soudan, or of military preparations
with a view to an early advance on Khartoum; but it
did ask Parliament to hold all our military resources,
as far as possible, including the force in the Sondan,
for service wherever required. The Souakim railway
was projected and commenced as a military work in
support of the Nile Expedition. The experience of the
last summer had proved that, in order to hold Souakim
for any useful purpose, without undue risk to the
garrison, it might be necessary to occupy one
or more positions in the neighbourhood of that
place. It was, therefore, proposed to complete
the line up to the point which might be determined
upon by the military authorities and suspend any
further extension. The Vote proposed to provide,
• first, for what reinforcements the Indian Government
had already asked for; secondly, for the mobilisation
at home of a force by which the force in Egypt and the
Soudan would constitute a complete Army Corps; and
thirdly, for guns and submarine mining defences in
addition to and in aid of Naval preparations. When
the Government first contemplated asking for a Vote
of Credit, it had reference to the Soudan alone; hut, I
considering the important change that had taken
place, the change in the propositions which they I
now made, and the great change of having intro-
duced larger items referring to Military prepara-
tions, they thought that the considerable addition to
the Military expenditure which it was their duty to ask

should be distinctly submitted to Parliament at a very
early day, and before the Budget statement was made.
The proposal was, therefore, to submit the Vote of Credit
to the sanction of the House on Monday next, which
would give ample time for consideration. Anxious not
to lose a day, the Financial Statement of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer would be postponed from
Thursday next until the Thursday following. The
eleven millions asked for by the Vote were divided
between the remaining charges for the Soudan and the
Vote for military preparations. The remaining charges
for the Soudan stood at four millions and a half, of
which four millions would be in the technical division
of military charges. But of that four millions, seven
hundred and fifty thousand pounds would have relation
to the Souakim Railway, and four hundred thousand
pounds to the Wady Haifa Railway. There would also
be a naval charge of five' hundred thousand pounds in
relation to the Soudan, and mainly connected with the
removal of the troops. Under the head of "special
preparations," six millions and a half was asked for,
four millions as military charge and two millions and a
half as naval charge. This proposal the Government
made under a deep sense of its gravity; and the right
hon. gentleman added that, while they counted with
confidence on the liberality and patriotism of Parlia-
ment to meet every just demand, their course in all
their relations with Foreign Powers would continue to
be the same as it had been, so far as the intentions of
the Government were concerned. Their aim and desire
would be, if possible, to obtain by pacific means a just
and an honourable settlement of every controversy in
which we were or might be involved.
Sir Stafford Northcote said the proposal was one of
such magnitude as to strike the House with a sense oi"
its gravity. With regard to the expense for the
Soudan, he was not entirely satisfied with the Prime
Minister's statement. In fact, he did not think that
the Government were dealing with the Soudan question
in a satisfactory manner, and doubted if the House
ought to be asked to give the Vote for operations in
the Soudan without a fuller and completer explanation
of the Ministerial policy. As to the proposal as a
whole, he was glad to hear that the Government
intended to proceed rapidly in the matter, and if it was
necessary to postpone the Btullothe should not object
to that course being taken.
The Vote of Credit was then referred to Committee
of Supply.