The San Francisco call., 1896-03-17
UP THE NILE.
An Explanation for the Reason
Of Rushing Forces Into
the Soudan.
DEBATED BY THE LEADERS.
Labouchere Contends That the Expe.
dition Against the DervisheS
Is Worse Than Useless.

| LONDON, ENG, March s16.-George N.
Curzon, Parliamentary Secretary OF the
Foreign Office and the representative of
that department of the British Govern
ment inthe 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 Government coming out
squarely in favor of and in sympathy with
Italy in the latters campaign in Abyssinia
and justifying the course adopted by Lord
Salisbury 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 der
wish forces was contemplated, which
| threatened three widely separated points
Murch Wells, between Korosko and Abu-
| Hamed, next to Kar, between Berber and
Suakin, and also kassala. Then came the
disaster to the Italian army at Adowa,
which had been heard throughout the
United Kingdom with much sympathy
and regret. [Cries from the Irish benches
of mo, no." and remark by T. H. Healy,
sit served them rightly
| Mr.. Curzon. resuming his remarks after
the interruption, said: Eyes; sympathy
which was not broken, by but few DIS
senting voices" [Cheers.]
The Government has been in constant
communication with the Government of
Egypt, and the opinion of the military Of
fcials, both here and in Cairo. is that an
advance up the Nile is necessary. Conse-
quently an advance of British troops has
been ordered to town one-third OF the
/ distence between Wady Halfa and DON
COLA.
Mr.. Curzon further said that after the
Soudan expedition had reached Akasheh,
| between Wady Halfa and Dongala, it
| possibly would advance to Dongola.
Mr.. Labouchere moved to adjourn in
order to consider the serious condition
which had been revealed by the statement
| in regard to Egypt and the Soudan made
| by Mr.. Curzon. Mr.. Labouchere con-
tended that the expedition into the Sou
dan was worse than needless.
| The motion was rejected.
! Sir Charles Dixie said that he did not
believe that the real object of the expedi-
ton was the safety of Egypt, nor diver
sion in favor of the Italians, which was
| impossible.
| Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the Lib
eral leader in the House, followed Sir
| Charles Dixie. He said that if this was
the first step of a forward policy in Egypt
| it was of a most perllous character and de-
served strenuous opposition.
/ There was great party in England he
| said. which learned nothing from expert
ence and which was always eager for the
extension of the empire, which was al
ready large enough to please the most in
ordinate ambition. Ae would not in the
| meantime assume that there was any in
| tentlon on the part of the Government to
give the movement up the Nile a signifi-
canoe beyond Mr.. Curzon's statement.
| He asked the House to note that the
Government repudiated any intention to
occupy the Soudan. The House was
bound to assume that this was small
movement for military purposes to meet
temporary occasion. He hoped there
would be an early opportunity to discuss
| the matter in the larger bearings when
the whole policy of the occupation of
Egypt was considered. [Cries of "Hearl
hear!"]
The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Govern.
| ment leader in the House, said that all the
Government could state at present was
that the advance must be made. 1t would
be premature to discuss the further move
ments intended. Mr.. Labouchere, he
added, seemed to rejoice at the defeat of
Italy.
Mr.. Labouchere-Hear! hear!
That, Mr.. Balfour continued, was GER
tainIy not the view of single man on the
Government side of the House; nor was it
the view of majority of the opposite
side TCries of "Hear! hearp'l nor of the
English people. [Cheers.] Even the ma
tions of Europe whose policy is most di-
| vergent from that OF Italy expressed SYM
pathy for the Italians in their reverses.
Mr.. Labouchere also reioiced because of
,, the resurgence of Mahdiism. Had the
world ever seen more cruel or worse rule?
He could not conceive change more for
the benefit of the Soudan than that that
country should be transferred to Govern
ment acting under English influence.
Nothing certainly would more conduce to
the welfare and prosperity of the Soudan-
ese than replacing brutal anarchy by regu-
| lar laws.
| The Government had no reason to be-
| lieve 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 remain prosperous and Sc
cure would not regret the step the Govern
ment had taken.
| The Government did not dream of ex-
tending the conquest to Darfur. That was
| niphtmare-a creation of Sir Charles
[ Dilke's Imagination. The rumor of
i pr;+;sl odvonra wonld spread with lipht-
ninglike rapidity to the Madhist regions.
There could be no better diversion in favor
| of the Italians, even if the expedition went