In my despatch to Sir E. Baring of the 28th March* I recapitulated at some length the circumstances under which General Gordon was dispatched to Egypt, and the instructions with which he was furnished on leaving England, and subsequently on his departure from Cairo to Khartoum. The object of his mission was to accomplish the evacuation of the Soudan, and the safe withdrawal, if possible, of the Egyp tian garrisons. The intention was that this should be effected by pacific means, or at least with no more recourse to force than might be necessary in self-defence. It was not intended that the operation should include or involve measures for the purpose of crushing the Mahdi or of suppressing the rebellion by force. Her Majesty's Government fully acknowledge their debt of gratitude to General Gordon for the heroic courage with which he has proceeded upon a mission which presented difficulties insurmountable by ordinary means, together with the possibility of serious danger. They recognize the benefits which have resulted from it, the confidence which, at all events for a time, he restored in Khartoum, the dispatch of the women and children in safety from that place, and his success, perhaps, in arresting any military movements upon Egypt, certainly in dispelling the alarms connected with the expectation of such an event. Immediately after General Gordon's arrival at Khartoum he expressed his opinion that arrangements should be made for the future administration of the Soudan, and he urged the appointment of Zebehr Pasha as Governor-General, with a commission from Her Majesty's Government and a promise of their moral support. The reasons for which Her Majesty's Government found themselves unable to sanction such an arrangement are given in another despatch. On the 4th March a telegram was received from Sir E. Baringt stating that General Gordon and Colonel Stewart advised the dispatch of a small force of British or Indian cavalry to Berber, as soon as the road was opened between that place and Suakin, but Sir E. Baring himself did not agree in this proposal. It appeared that the object of the expedition was to overawe the tribes between Berber and Khartoum, and reassure the population of the towns. The military information in the possession of Her Majesty's Government showed that it was unsafe to send a small body of cavalry from Suakin, and impossible to send a large force. They could not, therefore, authorize the advance of any troops in the direction of Berber until they were informed of the military conditions on which it was to be made, and were satisfied that the expedition was necessary for General Gordon's safety, and would be confined to that purpose. This decision was reconsidered, at the request of Sir E. Baring, on learning that General Gordon was still expecting the arrival of troops at Berber, but having regard to the danger of the climate and the extraordinary military risk, Her Majesty's Government did not feel justified in altering it. General Gordon has recently suggested the employment of Turkish troops lent by the Sultan, variously estimating the number required at from 2,000 to 4,000 men. The employment of Turkish troops in the Soudan would be contrary to the views advocated by him on former occasions. I need not remind you that in his Proclamations issued at Berber and Khartoum, of which copies were inclosed in Sir E. Baring's despatch of the 17th March, he declared that he had averted the dispatch of troops by the Sultan, and had come in person to prevent further bloodshed. Moreover, such a course would involve a reversal of the original policy of Her Majesty's Government, which was to detach the Soudan from Egypt, and restore to its inhabitants their former independence. The request is not founded on any necessities of defence in Khartoum, as according to Sir E. Baring's telegram of the 9th April,§ General Gordon considered himself safe for a certain time; the town was provisioned for some months, and the market was well supplied. It is clear from his messages to Sir E. Baring and also to Sir S. Baker, reported in the telegram already referred to, and in despatches of the 18th and 19th instant,|| that his object in asking for these troops is to effect the withdrawal of the Soudan garrisons by military expeditions, and to bring about the collapse of the Mahdi. Her Majesty's Government, while labouring under the disadvantage of insufficient information, have taken General Gordon's operations in the vicinity of Khartoum to be required for the defence of the place, and they can well understand that such action may be necessary even for defensive purposes. But with respect to his request for Turkish troops with a view to offensive operations, General Gordon cannot too clearly understand that these operations cannot receive the sanction of Her Majesty's Government, and that they are beyond the scope of his mission. Earl Granville to Her Majesty's Representatives at Paris, Rome, Berlin, Vienna, My Lord, Foreign Office, April 25, 1884. I TRANSMIT herewith, for your Excellency's information, copy of a note which I have addressed to the Spanish Minister at this Court relative to the Circular recently issued by the Egyptian Government, proposing to levy a stamp and professional tax on foreign residents.* No. 10. I am, &c. Earl Granville to the Marquis de Casa Laiglesia. M. le Ministre, I beg leave to inform you that Her Majesty's Government are favourably disposed to this proposal, and trust that foreign Governments, if they have any modification to suggest, will not oppose in principle a measure the object of which is to place foreigners in Egypt on an equal footing with the natives, who feel the injustice of being compelled in the exercise of their trade or profession to pay taxes from which their European rivals are exempt. I have the honour to remind you that the question was referred to in the Circular issued by Her Majesty's Government on the 3rd January, 1883, and that on that occasion they expressed the hope that foreign Powers would join with them in accepting any reasonable proposals which might be made by the Egyptian Government for equalizing the taxation of foreigners and natives. I have, &c. VIL No. 11. Earl Granville to Mr. Egerton. Sir, Foreign Office, April 30, 1884. I HAVE received the following further suggestions as to the best means by which communications might be sent to General Gordon : 1. By cypher message to Mudir of Dongola, who should be instructed to send several copies to Khartoum by different messengers at intervals of a day. or two. The messengers should not know each other, or be aware that others are being sent. 2. Copies of message in cypher might be sent from Suakin by Mr. Brewster by separate messengers to Sheikh Moosa of Hadendo was at Filik, asking him to send two at intervals of a few days to Khartoum by direct road, and two through Kassala and Hamran country. A liberal reward should be promised him. An answer might reach Filik in twelve days, and for every day beyond that period a reduction might be made. 3. The Governor of Massowah should be instructed to telegraph the message in cypher to the furthest station to which the telegraph is still open, whence three or four copies might be sent on to Kassala and Khartoum. 4. In the event of telegraphic communication with Berber being restored, the Governor of that place might be able to send a message through by the agency of the Bishareen or Shaggieh tribes. I am, &c. (Telegraphic.) Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received May 1, 1.30 P.M.) Cairo, May 1, 1884, 12.30 P.M. TELEGRAM for Gordon when first received was sent to Berber, Dongola, Suakin, and Massowah. When Agent at Berber telegraphed 25th April it was impossible to get message to Khartoum, I telegraphed again 26th April, saying that any outlay made for this important object would be repaid, and begging him to use every possible effort, but Mr. Cuzzi on 28th repeated that it was impossible. Governor of Berber instructed, but no result. The message was, however, sent on from Dongola, and the Governor has been instructed to send a subsequent message. The message was also sent from Suakin, and orders sent to dispatch another messenger. From Massowah no report yet. Have not sent on message by long outer desert route. Have not been able to do anything yet, and not much hope of practical result. I have also acted on your telegram which I received to-day.* No. 13. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 1.) My Lord, Cairo, May 1, 1884. I HAVE the honour to report that Nubar Pasha, Lieutenant-General Stephenson, and Sir Evelyn Wood recommended that Majors Kitchener and Rundle should be allowed to proceed at once to Abu Hamad with 500 Foggara Ababdehs with a view to endeavour to keep Hegel and his tribe, the Rebatat, on our side, and prevent the movement spreading northwards and to Wady Halfa. In case of sending a force by the Korosko route, the water difficulty would be greatly increased by Abu Hamad being lost. It should be understood that the Foggara are resident in small numbers in Abu Hamad, and that the Rebatat stretch thence to Berber. Major Kitchener believes that he will incur little or no risk. As Hegel is wavering, immediate action is necessary, and I beg that your Lordship will send me instructions as soon as possible. Personally, I now strongly recommend this action, as something may thus be done or be found possible to do to hinder the tide of rebellion which, not from its strength, but from not meeting the slightest hindrance, is becoming threatening to Upper Egypt; the use of regular troops at this time of the year being practically out of the question. I have, &c. (Signed) EDWIN H. EGERTON. *See "Egypt No. 20 (1884)." M. l'Ambassadeur, No. 14. Earl Granville to Musurus Pasha. Foreign Office, May 1, 1881. HER Majesty's Government have had under their consideration your Excellency's note of the 12th ultimo,* in which you reiterate the desire of the Turkish Government to come to an arrangement with regard to Egypt on the basis of my Circular to the Powers of the 3rd January, 1883. I have already had the honour of informing your Excellency in conversation of the views of Her Majesty's Government upon this point; but I beg leave to place on record, in accordance with your Excellency's request, the assurance that Her Majesty's Government have endeavoured, since the issue of that Circular, to act in accordance with its declarations, and intend to continue to do so. GRANVILLE. I have, &c. (Signed) No. 15. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.—(Received by telegraph, May 2.) Cairo, May 2, 1884. I HAVE the honour to report that Major Rundle telegraphs from Assouan that the Ababdiehs, that section engaged for the defence of Egypt, show hesitation about going to Korosko, and he reports the situation generally in Upper Egypt as getting worse. As Major Rundle was urgent for the return of Major Kitchener, considering his personal influence with the Sheikhs as everything, Sir Evelyn Wood dispatched Major Kitchener to Assouan this morning. Foreign Office, May 2, 1884. IT has been arranged that the responsibility for the defence of Suakin shall be transferred to the Senior Naval Officer at that port on the withdrawal of the battalion of Rifles now stationed there, and upon the receipt of a Report from the officer in command of Her Majesty's ships at Suakin that he has sufficient force at his command. You will be good enough to request the Egyptian Government to send instructions to the officer commanding their troops at that port to act, in the event of necessity arising, in co-operation with the Senior Naval Officer. I am, &c. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, May 2, 1884, 11·15 P.M. WE agree to dispatch of Majors Kitchener and Rundle, as proposed in your telegram of yesterday. * See "Egypt No. 18 (1884)," p. 18, No. 28. No. 18. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.—(Received by telegraph, May 3.) Cairo, May 3, 1884. I HAVE the honour to report to your Lordship that the Khedive sent for me to-day and informed me that in the present agitated state of Upper Egypt he thought it essential to appoint a man of energy and local knowledge, with the title of InspectorGeneral of that district, and with the mission of acting on officials and populations, and of opposing in every way the influence of the Mahdi's emissaries. His Highness added that Raouf Pasha was the person he proposed to name. I told the Khedive that I would convey to your Lordship His Highness' views, which Nubar Pasha had already made known to me. I therefore venture to request your Lordship to instruct me what answer I should return to the Khedive. Foreign Office, May 3, 1881. I HAVE received your despatch of the 14th ultimo,* in which you give an account of the circumstances which induced Nubar Pasha to hand in his resignation. I approve the judicious manner in which the difficulty was arranged. I am, &c. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, May 5.) My Lord, Cairo, May 5, 1884. WITII reference to my despatch of the 3rd instant, I have the honour to report that, at an interview I had this morning with the Khedive, His Highness told me that he had considered whether there were any other person whom he could possibly send to Upper Egypt instead of Raouf Pasha, in the case of there being a veto from your Lordship, as I suggested there might perhaps be on his appoint ment. His Highness, after reflection, could think of nobody possible, excepting Osman Pasha Ghalib, late Prefect of Police at Cairo, and Omar Pasha Loutfy, Minister of War in Chérif Pasha's last Ministry. He wished me to repeat that he thought it an actual necessity to send an Inspector-General to Upper Egypt. I have, &c. I HAVE the honour to inclose a further telegram from Hussein Pasha Khalifa, in which he asks that an answer be sent to his messages before the telegraph line be cut. He suggests that the two battalions of Egyptian troops now stationed at Assouan should be moved forward, and that by this means Berber might be saved. I have, &c. (Signed) EDWIN H. EGERTON. *See "Egypt No. 18 (1884)." p. 27, No. 34. |