The record-union., 1896-03-17

Against Dongola-Statement Made
by CurZon, Parliamentary Secre-
tary of the Foreign Office, Before
the House of Commons.
LONDON, March 16.-George Nathan
Curzon, Parliamentary Secretary of the
Foreign Office, and the representative
of that department of the British Gov
ernment in the House of Commons,
made a statement in the House to-day
which sets at rest all doubts, if any
there were, as to the attitude of Great
Britain toward the dreibund, the Gov
ernment coming out squarely in favor
of and in sympathy with Italy in the
latter's campaign in Abyssinia, and JUS
tifying the course adopted by Lord Sal
isbury in sending an expedition against
Dongola
Mr. Curzon said that for some time
past the Government had heard rumors
that large and formidable advance of
the Dervish forces was contemplated
which threatened three widely sepa-
rated objective points-Murch Wells
between Korosko and Abu Hamed; next
Tokar, between Berber and Suakim
and also Kassala. Then came the dis
dster to the Italian army at Adowa,
which had been heard throughout the
United Kingdom with much sympathy
and regret. (Cries from the Irish
branches of ''Noi MOI" and a remark
from T. H. Healy, "It served them
rIghtI')
Mr. Curzon, resuming his remarks
after the interruption, said: Eyes;
sympathy which was not broken by but
a few dissenting voices" (Cheers.)
The Government has been in constant
communication with the Government Of
Egypt, and the opinion of the military
officials both here and in Cairo is that
an advance upon the Nile is necessary
Consequently an advance of British
troops has been ordered to a town one
third of the distance between Wady-
Balfa and Dongola.
Mr.. Curzon further said that after
the Soudan expedition reached Aka
sheh, between Wady -Halfa and Dom
COLA, it possibly would advance to Dom
COLA.
Mr.. Labouchere moved to adjourn in
order to consider the serious condition
which had been revealed by the state
ment in regard to Egypt and the Sou
Dan made by Mr.. Curzcn.
Mr.. Labouchere contended that the
expedition into the Soudan was worse
than needless. The motion was re-
jected.
Sir Charles Dixie said he did not be-
lieve that the idea of the expedition
was the safety of Egypt nor the relief Of
the Italians.
Sir Vernon. Harcourt 0iberaD fol-
lowed Sir Charles Dixie. He said that
if this was the first step of a forward
policy in Egypt, it was of a most per-
nicious character and deserved siren
uous opposition. There was a great
party in England which learned nothing
from experience, and which was always
eager for the extension of the empire.
which was already large enough to
please the most inordinate ambition.
He would not in the meantime assume
that there was any intention on the
part of the Government to give the
movement up the Nile a significance
beyond Mr.. CurZon's statement He
asked the State to note that the Gov
ernment repudiated any intention to
occupy the Soudan. The House was
bound to assume that there was
small movement for military purposes
to meet a temporary occasion He had
hoped there would be an early oppor-
tunity to discuss the matter in the
larger bearings when the whole policy
Of the occupation of Egypt was con-
sidered. (Cries of "Hear! Hear!0
The RiOhf Hon Ro1fo,,r Gov
ernment leader said that all the Gov
ernment could state at present was
that the advance must be made. 1t
would be premature to discuss the fur
ther movements intended. Mr. Labou-
chere, he added, semed to rejoice at the
defeat of Italy.
Labouchere-Hearl Heart
That, Balfour continued, was certain
ly not the view of single man on the
Government side of the House. nor
was it the view of a majority of the
opposite side, nor of the English peo-
pie. (Cheers.) Even the nations of Eu-
rope, whose policy is most divergent
from that of Italy, expressed sympathy
for the Italians in their reverses. La
bouchere also rejoiced because of the
resurgence of Mahdiism. Had the
world ever seen more cruel or worse
rule? He could not conceive a change
more for the benefit of the Soudan than
that the country should be traversed
and covered by English influence
The Government had no reason to
believe that any great power would
object to the expedition. Certainly
those powers favorable to Italy would
not object, and any other power that
was desirous that Egypt should re-
main prosperous and secure would not
regret the step the Government had
taken. The Government did not dream
of extending the conquest to Darfur.
That was a nightmare, a, creation of
Sir Charles Dilkes imagination
John Redmond. one of the Parnellite
leaders said that if the expedition met
with misfortune similar to that which
had befallen the Italians. the news
would be received with satisfaction by
the greater number of the Irish mem
bers in the House
THE CUBAN REBELLION.