Mr. Courtney supported Mr. Morley's Motion. His record in regard
to the Soudan is absolutely clear, and therefore, though we may disagree with his conclusions, no one can deny his right to protest against and denounce the ad- vance. Technically, however, he was wrong when he de- clared that no Power on the Upper Nile could injure Lower Egypt. As Sir Edward Grey explained, the fear is not that another Power would wantonly turn the water off, but that a Power in possession of the Soudan might in the most legitimate manner use the water up for irrigating the country adjacent to the Upper Nile. We have the highest engineering authority in confirmation of this view of the possibilities. Sir Edward Grey's speech was as brave and courageous as it was able, and in strong contrast to that of his leader, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who made an extremely disappointing declaration. After wobbling first in one direction and then in the other, Sir Henry Campbell. Bannerman came off the fence on Mr. Morley's side. To show that we are not unfair we will quote one sentence verbatim :—" If my right hon. friend's Motion had meant that we were to retrace our steps and undo what has already been done, then I should certainly not have voted for it : but, regarding it as a continued protest against a policy of which we have already expressed an adverse opinion, I have no hesitation in voting for it."
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