The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-18
STANLEY'S FATE ASECRET
DIGNA'5 LETTER NOT SUFFICIENT
TO CLEAR THE MYSTERY.

Tho Explorers Expedition Never Ofh-
cielly Recognized by the British
Government-G Gloomy Advices from
Wadelai in 1997-lhe Debate Still
On-Heavy Firing at Suakim.
LONDON, Dec. 17.-In the House Of Com
mons to-day Lord Randolph Churchill asked
what would be the estimated cost of send
ing achievements to Suakin, and whether
it was the intention of the government to
upon Egypt in the face of Lord Salisbury's
speech of March 16 in which he said he did
not think that the retention or Suakim
would be an advantage to Egypt, and ad-
vised the abandonment Of the place.
Sir James Ferguson. parliamentary secre-
tary to the foreign Office, said it was impos-
sible to estimate the cost Lord Salisbury's
utterance was merely personal opinion in
a speech made outside of the House OF
Lords. There was no reason to believe that
the Egyptian government coincided in the
opinion or intended to abandon Suakim.
MORLEY EXPRESSES SURPRISE.
John Morley described Sir James Fergus
sons answer as extraordinary. He declared
that it would be repugnant TO the house TO
separate without learning whether steps
could be taken to avert the threatened fate
Of Emin Boy and Stanley. He urged the
government TO issue proclamation
to the coast tribesmen, stating that what
ever happened Egyptian dominion would
not be extended an inch beyond Suakin.
IL the government wants to detach these
tribesmen from FL Mahdi it must assure
them that they will be allowed TO retain
their positions. Did the government, Mr..
Morley asked, consider military operations
80 paramount that it would not suspend
them if they endangered Emin Bey and
Stanleys
CAN'T STOP OPERATIONS.
Sir James Ferguson said the government
could not give the specific declaration re-
quired. A close perusal of Osman Digna's
letter increased the doubts as 10 its genuine
ness. 1t did not bear the impress OF truth.
1t appeared to be a clever oriental device,
and was not sufficient to delay the raising
Of the siege of Suakim.
Mr.. Gladstone said he would assume that
any negotiations with the Dervishes might
give so little encouragement that they should
not be attempted as a fixed policy. But as
it was the governments policy to draw the
widest distinction between the Dervishes
investing Suakim and the comparatively
powerful tribes, regarded as proprietors of
Soudan why should not the government
attempt to convert these tribes over to
English views regarding the occupation of
Sunkim.
AN ESSENTIAL POINT.
1t was essential to determine whether the
occupation should be British or Egyptian.
If it were Egyptian it would be mischiev-
Gus, while British occupation was neces-
sary. The matter ought to be submitted
to the Judgment of the House. He himself
was averse to any occupation.
Lord Randolph Churchill said that he
regretted the resumption of the course
which he had denounced when it was taken
by the liberals and he still denounced it.
Mr. Chaplain and Mr.. Beresford icon
servativesl advocated the retention OF
Suakim.
MIR. Morley, in order to obtain division,
moved to reduce the voto for the embassies
by 9300. The motion was rejected by a
vote of l65 against 76
DISPATCHES MADE PUBLIC.
The foreign oiiice has made public a series
of dispatches giving history Of tho Emin
relief expedition. These dispatches, which
are dated from Sept. %, 1886. to May 27,
1887, show that England from the first had
no direct communication with Stanley
expedition. or the $4,000 prom
ised by the Egyptian government,
the Emin relief committee received 9S, 400,
and that amount was given only on CON
dition that it be refunded out Of the pro-
ceeds of the sale of ivory in Emin's pos
session. 1t is noteworthy that the most
gloomy advices received by the committee
from Stanley were dispatched from Wadelai
at the end of July, 1887.
The Arab Entertainments were heavily
shelled by the forts to-day. The Twentieth
Hussars and two companies Of the Fifth
Egyptian battalion have arrived here.