treated, and the only argument which | noble Earl the former Secretary of State will be placed in his hands will be the assurance that the public opinion of Europe will condemn them if they do not accede to our wishes. I fear that the Special Commissioner, though he may enjoy a pleasant trip, will return emptyhanded, unless he is to receive a hint from the Government that they would not be sorry to wash their hands entirely of the interests of all those Native races whom they have hitherto undertaken to protect. My Lords, I confess that I entirely agree with my noble Friend who spoke on this side (Viscount Cranbrook), that if there is to be nothing more definite or more determined in the interference of Her Majesty's Government, they had far better wash their hands of the whole territory altogether. This nerveless diplomacy, these feeble negotiations, this helpless policy-they confer no advantage upon anyone of the parties to whom they are applied. They leave the Natives, who may be still simple enough to trust in you, to expose themselves, without a chance of protection, to the deadly hostility of their hereditary foes; and they leave a slur upon the good name of England, both for valour and good faith, in the minds of all the inhabitants of South Africa, which may be dangerous to our power in many parts of the Empire, and more especially to our South African Colonies. EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, I can say, as the noble Viscount opposite (Viscount Cranbrook) said, that I had not the slightest intention of taking part in this discussion; but, after what has fallen from the noble Marquess opposite (the Marquess of Salisbury), I should like to say one or two words. I quite agree that it is the duty of an Opposition to criticize—and a very useful duty it is the acts of the Government. Most Oppositions carry that useful operation rather further than is sometimes necessary; and I am bound to say that no Opposition I ever remember deserves such credit as the noble Marquess and his Friends for finding fault with everything which Her Majesty's Government do, and for never allowing that, in any one particular point, Her Majesty's Government are in the slightest degree right. The noble Marquess has, to-day, stated, in the most definite manner, what is the intention of this discussion. In the long, elaborate speech of the Ha for the Colonies (the Earl of Carnarvon) and the fiery speech of the noble Viscount opposite (Viscount Cranbrook) very severe critical observations have been made in addition to the noble Marquess's own severe remarks. entirely disdains giving the Government or the country the slightest assistance as to our future policy, and as to what we ought to do at this moment; but he expressly states that the object of all this discussion is merely to see whether any dirt has adhered to Her Majesty's present Government in struggling out of that slough of mire into which we were led by the noble Earl the former Secretary of State for the Colonies and his Colleagues by their act of annexation of the territory. We are told that it was done under mistaken information, and that they would not have gone so far if they had had the slightest idea of the real facts of the case. But now, with all this disclaimer, the noble Marquess not only gives us no assistance in our policy, but attempts at once to damage, as much as he can, the measure we propose to take of sending out a Special Commissioner. "How can you expect any results," he asks, "if you announce beforehand that you are not going to war under any circumstances?" That is very much the position in which the noble Marquess himself was once placed, when he went to Constantinople, after the declaration of Lord Beaconsfield and others that we were on no account to go to war. THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: No, no! EARL GRANVILLE: I think the noble Marquess exaggerated what has been said by Her Majesty's Government. We have no intention of going to war; we see every possible reason against it. Therefore, we are against going to war; but we have never said that there are no conceivable circumstances in which force may not be resorted to. The noble Marquess said he would not give us advice; but he ended by giving us most distinct advice, for he said "If you will not exert your force in order to establish a right state of things in South Africa, I advise you to do nothing at all, but to wash your hands of the whole affair." I do not think that is good advice; and I hope Her Majesty's Government will not follow that advice. R.P. * But the whole inference from his own | Committee-Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) [7] [Fourth Night]— speech, and still more from the speech of the noble Viscount, is that it is the Considered as amended-Tramways Provisional duty of Her Majesty's Ministers, for the Orders [167]; Tramways Provisional Orders honour-I do not think anybody could (No. 3) * [169]. say it would be for the interests of the country that we should use forcible means. I remember a speech of the noble Marquess, at a public meeting a short time since, in which he said that when he heard of the bombardment of Alexandria it added six inches to his stature. But a scalded dog sometimes Third Reading-Local Government Provisional QUESTIONS. O fears cold water; and I cannot help ROYAL IRISH CONSTABULARY-CASE feeling, supposing we came to the same opinion as the noble Marquess and his Friends, that it is a judicious thing, either for our interest, or for anything else, to go to war with the Boers on this occasion. I venture to differ from that opinion. I am afraid that it is possible that, when the war was begun, if it was carried on favourably, we might expect, as in the case of the bombardment of Alexandria, that, for months after that, we should hear peace speeches from the Opposition, and the denunciation of the bloodthirstiness of Her Majesty's Government in undertaking the war. I do not regret the present discussion. I think the speeches of both the noble Earls who have been closely connected with the Colonies will be useful in enlightening the public on the real merits of the question; but I hope the discussion will not induce the country to believe that we are not, on the one hand, going to war with the Boers at all, or that, in a state of hopelessness, we entirely wash our hands of the whole question. was OF SUB-CONSTABLE WALSH. MR. SEXTON (for Mr. BIGGAR) asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, If it was a fact that Constable Kilcummins, of Rosslea police station, in the county Fermanagh, had brought a charge against Sub-Constable Walsh, at Rosslea Petty Sessions, of indecently assaulting his (Constable Kilcummins) servant girl; that the servant girl, whose age is fourteen years, on cross-examination admitted that the whole case a concoction of Kilcummins and his wife to destroy the character of Walsh; that the case was dismissed by the magistrates; and, if so, what reason did the authorities of the Royal Irish Constabulary assign for refusing to allow Sub-Constable Walsh to recover from Constable Kilcummins the expense he had undergone in defending himself from this charge; and, further, had the matter been investigated by the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and had Constable Kilcummins been punished for conspiring with his wife to coerce this little girl to swear lies for the of purpose destroying the character and means of livelihood of Sub-Constable Walsh; and, if so, what punishment had been inflicted on Constable Kilcummins; were the Government aware that two years shooting lodge in the townland of Eshago six policemen were stationed in a nadarra, on the Slieve Beagh mountains in the county Fermanagh, belonging to John Madden, of Rosslea Manor, in said county, for the purpose of preserving the game for Mr. Madden; and, if so, from what source was the money drawn for the maintenance of this force; and, did the Government intend continuing so many policemen in this place, considering the fact that there never was a single agrarian outrage committed in the district? MR. TREVELYAN: Sir, the Report which I have received on the case to which the hon. Member refers shows the case to be one which calls for further inquiry. It may take some time to examine; but the examination will be thorough. MR. TREVELYAN: It is the case that Constable Kilcummins brought the charge mentioned against Sub-Constable Walsh, and that the magistrates refused depositions; but it is not true that the girl who was alleged to have been assaulted admitted that the case was concocted by the constable and his wife. THE ROYAL MILITARY HOSPITALS— THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY. There is no ground whatever for that allegation. It is not the fact that Sub- MR. SEXTON asked the Secretary of Constable Walsh was refused permission State for War, Whether the Report of to recover his expenses from the con- the Committee of Inquiry into the Royal stable. He made no application to that Hospitals at Chelsea and Kilmainham, effect. He did apply to get his expenses the Royal Military Asylum at Chelsea, from his own authorities; but, as his and the Royal Hibernian Military School, conduct on the night in question, even Dublin, presided over by Lord Morley, on his own showing, was by no means is yet ready to be laid on the Table of free from suspicion, his County Inspec- the House; whether it has been for tor refused his application. There was nearly a year in the hands of the Secrenothing in the conduct of Constable Kil-tary of State for War; whether, since cummins to call for punishment. The its production was promised early this police at Eshnadarra were not placed there for the purpose stated in the Question. The station was established for general purposes on the recommendation of the Lieutenant and Magistrates of the county. It is an ordinary county station involving no charge to the district, and it is not intended to abolish it. POOR LAW (IRELAND)-ELECTION OF GUARDIANS-MAGHERAFELT UNION, MR. O'BRIEN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Local Government Board has decided that the vote of John M'Oscar at the recent Poor Law election for the Salterstown division of the Magherafelt Union was wrongfully rejected by the returning officer, thereby causing a tie between the two candidates; whether, nevertheless, the Local Government Board has refused to ratify the election of Mr. Larkin, the candidate for whom M'Oscar's vote was given, and, notwithstanding the remonstrance of the Board of Guardians, has by sealed order directed a new election to be held; whether a sworn inquiry has been called for with respect to several other acts of illegality charged against the returning officer and the collecting officer, in connection with the elections for the Carnamoney and Iniscarn divisions of the same union; and, whether these charges will be investigated, and the officials, if found culpable, cenBured? Session by his predecessor in office, he will state for the information of the House what recommendations contained in the Report have been accepted and adopted by the War Office authorities; and, whether there is any cause for the unusual delay which has taken place in the presentation of the Report? SIR ARTHUR HAYTER: In the unavoidable absence of the Secretary of State for War on duty, I shall be happy to answer the Question put by the hon. Member for Sligo. The Report alluded to in his Question is that of a Departmental Committee, and for the information of the Secretary of State. It was not in his hands until nearly the end of last year. The Report dealt with several important Institutions, enumerated in the hon. Member's Question, and the first step which had to be taken was to consult the Governing Bodies and other authorities of the Institutions concerned on the recommendations of the Committee which affected them, and also to have the financial and other bearings of the Report carefully examined in the Department. It would not be convenient to make the Report public until some decisions had been arrived at on the principal recommendations of the Committee. The Secretary of State hopes to be in a position very shortly to come to these decisions, and there will then be no unnecessary delay in presenting the Report to Parliament. TREATY OF BERLIN--ARTICLE 10- MR. JOSEPH COWEN asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the British Diplomatic Agent at Sofia has ceased to hold relations with the Bulgarian Government; and, if so, for what reason? form the House of the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the subject; and, whether the recent Correspondence with other Australasian Colonies, with respect to the annexation of certain other islands in the Pacific, will be presented to Parliament ? MR. EVELYN ASHLEY: The Despatch from the Governor of Queensland has arrived, and is being prepared with other Parliamentary Papers to be shortly laid on the Table. The Government have not yet arrived at any final deci sion on the matters dealt with in that Despatch. As to the telegraphic correspondence with respect to certain Islands in the Pacific, the shortness of Notice has prevented me conferring with the Secretary of State; but I have no doubt they will, before long, be pre LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE: Mr. Lascelles, Her Majesty's Agent and Consul General at Sofia, informed Lord Granville that he proposed to hold no further communication on the subject of the Varna-Rustchuk Railway with the Bulgarian Government until he had received a reply to the two notes referred to in my reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Evesham (Mr. DixonHartland) on Monday last. Mr. Las-sented to Parliament. celles was approved. The Report alluded to by my hon. Friend has, no doubt, grown out of this circumstance. It is, I need hardly add, entirely in correct. THE MAGISTRACY (IRELAND)— MR. DAWSON asked the Chief Secre tary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the period for which special resident magistrates were appointed for will not terminate on the 30th instant; if so, when the Right honourable gentleman will bring in his measure relating to this matter; and, whether it is intended to prolong the present system of special magistrates, and in the persons of the present holders of these positions? MR. TREVELYAN: Sir, it is the case the period referred to will terminate on the 20th of this month. Authority has been obtained from the Treasury to continue the present system for three months longer. The intention of the Government is to continue it pending the legislation to which the hon. Member refers. WESTERN ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC LAND. SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he can now lay upon the Table the Despatch from the Governor of Queensland with respect to the annexation of New Guinea, and in SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: I shall repeat the Question in a day or two to the Head of the Government, for it is a very important matter. SOUTH AFRICA-THE BRITISH RESI- SIR MICHAEL HICKS BEACH the Colonies, Whether it is true that asked the Under Secretary of State for Mr. Fynn, the resident with Cetywayo, has expressed a desire to resign his office? MR. EVELYN ASHLEY: It is perfectly true that Mr. Fynn has expressed a desire to resign the office. The main reason alleged is ill-health. TREATY OF BERLIN-ARTICLE 61 ARMENIA. MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether a deputation of Armenians was received on Wednesday by the Earl of Dufferin, Her Majesty's representative at Constantinople, now on leave in this country, and that expressions derogatory to the Turkish Government, and menacing to the security of the Ottoman Empire, were used both by members of the deputation and by Lord Dufferin in his reply; and, whether he can give any precedent for such a proceeding on the part of an Ambassador accredited to a friendly state? MR. GLADSTONE: Seeing the Question of the hon. Gentleman on the Paper, I have commmunicated with Lord Dufferin, and I learn from him | and, no doubt, it has been his conthat he received a deputation of Ar- stant duty, as it has been the constant menians, as it was called in the news- duty of the British Government, for papers, with none of the formalities at- many years past, to bring to the notice tending a public deputation, and that of the Turkish Government, sometimes the reception was not the subject of with advantage, the fact that there are any previous communications with Her very great abuses in connection with Majesty's Government. Lord Granville the acts of the local authorities in is out of town, and I have had no op- various parts of the Turkish Empire. portunity of communicating with him. Lord Dufferin, I know, is loyally atLord Dufferin says that, so far from his tached to the Turkish authority, always reply having the character of a menace, assuming that it is an authority to be it consisted of an exposition of the exercised, as the authority of every strong motives of self-interest which Government should be, for the benefit guaranteed the loyalty of the Armenians of its subjects; and his desire is to see to the Turkish Empire, and that it it so exercised. notified the fact that the Sultan had returned a gracious answer to Lord Dufferin's representations. What Lord Dufferin said in addition was merely what he conceives to be a repetition of that which has been already repeatedly stated on the part of Her Majesty's Government in Parliament. MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question? MR. GLADSTONE: The last portion of the Question turns upon an assumption of the accuracy of the previous portion of the Question-that there was in Lord Dufferin's statement a menace or expressions derogatory to the Turkish Government. I am aware of no precedent of that character; and, undoubtedly, I do not think this is a case of that kind. MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the fact that in the newspaper report it was stated that Lord Dufferin said that the Turkish authorities, instead of protecting the Armenians, seldom lost an opportunity for subjecting them to every kind of injustice and oppression, and that the upshot might prove extremely disastrous to the Porte? Is there any precedent for an Ambassador using language of that sort with regard to a friendly Power? MR. GLADSTONE: As to the persons who constituted the deputation, I have no knowledge. With regard to the statement that there was frequent oppression by the Turkish authorities, and that they were trying patience which might come to an end, those Turkish authorities are the local authorities of whom Lord Dufferin speaks; LAW AND POLICE (IRELAND)—SALA RIES OF SPECIAL RESIDENT MAGISTRATES. SIR HENRY HOLLAND asked whe ther there would be a Supplementary Estimate brought forward for the salaries of Special Resident Magistrates in Ireland? MR. TREVELYAN: That course was adopted before, and it will be followed again. MR. DAWSON asked when the Chief Secretary would bring in the Bill dealing with this matter? MR. TREVELYAN: I will bring it in as soon as I can. PARLIAMENT-BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. MR. GLADSTONE: I gave an engagement to the House yesterday that I would endeavour to learn what was the prevailing sentiment of the House with reference to the general progress of Business in regard to precedence between the Committees on the two Bills-one relating to Corrupt Practices and the other to Agricultural Holdings. I have been able, I think, to ascertain quite conclusively to my own mind, and to the minds of my Colleagues, that the prevailing desire of the House is, with a view not to the progress of one Bill in particular, but to the progress of both, that we should proceed in the course in which we are now engaged. We shall, taking it from day to day, as far as is in the power of the Government, proceed with the Committee on the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Il |