Widnes Examiner. — 1883-06-16 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

THE SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST THE KHEDIVE.—Lord R. CHURCHILL wished to knw whether the Government had since Friday inquired into the charge against the Khedive of having been concerned in the instigation of the massacre at Alexandria.—Mr. GLADSTONE read despatches from Sir E. Malet, Major Macdonald, and Lord Dufferin. The one from Lord Dufferin to Lord Granville was to the effect that the accusation against the Khedive could not be supported by any tangible fact or circumstance which could bring conviction to reasonable minds, and that during the whole of his stay in Egypt not a tittle of evidence was brought to his notice which would in the faintest degree have authorised so strange an allegation. His Lordship added that he had never been able to come to any ' other conclusion than that the calumny in question was one of those thoasand baseless fabrications which teem from the Egyptian soil —Sir S. NORTHCOTE asked if the Government would give the House the several telegrams which had passed between our Government and our representatives in Egypt, or with the Egyptian Government. on the subject of Suleiman's execution.—Lord E. FITZMAURICE replied that it would be better that the House should have the full information rather than that he should produce it piecemeal. The information was part of the promised papers, which would be presented at once.—Sir S. NORTHCOTE moved the adjournment of the House for the purpose of calling attention to a matter of urgent public importance. He thought the House ought to know the nature of the telegram sent by Lord Granville to Sir E. Malet, and the exact time at which it was sent.—Lord E. FITZMATIRICE said the Government never had any doubt after the information which reached them that Suleiman Sarni was to be executed that the sentence was a fair and just one. In consequence of disturbing statements in the papers, the Government decided to put themselves in possession of Major Macdonald's opinion. After the discussion on Friday two telegrams were sent, and they received in reply the opinion of Major Macdonald that Suleiman Sarni deserved his fate. —Lord R. CHURCH/LL argued that the Government did not wish to save Suleiman Sami's life, and were perfectly aware that it would be more convenient to the puthorities in Egypt that he should be hanged. He asserted that the order to open fire on the English fleet, which produced the bombardment of Alexandria and led to the destruction of the town was signed by the Khedive, and that Her Majesty's Government was as directly connected with the hanging of Suleiman Semi as of Timothy Kelly. Therefore he was justified in charging the Government with having been responsible for the grossest and foulest judicial murder that ever stained the annals of Oriental justice, and he challenged the Prime Minister to divest himself or his colleagues of responsibility for the assassination of Suleiman Sami.—Mr. GLADSTONE, in replying to the violent criticisms of Lord Randolph, remarked that if the noble Lord were under some sense of responsibility he would not throw out these scandalous and shameful charges against the ruler of Egypt and the judges' including the English members of the Court. He was hound to say that everything he had beard gave him reason to believe that not only was Suleiman Sami guilty of the crime for which he was executed, but that the circumstances of his guilt as indicated by his conduct on the day of the burning of Alexandria were circumstances of great aggravation. He reminded the House that in 1882 the Government had given a pledge not to take any steps to prevent execution in cases such as taking part in the burning of Alexandria.—After further discussion the motion for the adjournment was negatived without a division, and the House went into committee on Lord Alcester's Annuity Bill.  THE Arrigurri Brra..—The debate on the motion to go into committee on the Lord Alcester Annuity Bill was then resumed, and after some words from Mr. Biggar and Mr. Waddy the House divided, agreeing to go into committee by 229 votes against 45. Opposition was renewed in committee, but eventually the Bill passed without amendment. The Lord Wolseley's Grant Bill afterwards passed through committee.