§ MR. M'COANasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the suppression of the Cairo newspaper, The Bosphore Egyptien, has been duly decreed according to the Egyptian Press Law; and, if so, under what article of that Law, and for what offence; or whether it has taken place at the instance, or with the sanction, of Sir Evelyn Baring without reference to that Law; and, if the latter, what have been the specific grounds for this confiscation of Foreign property by Her Majesty's representative?
MR. O'BRIENPerhaps the noble Lord will answer this Question of the hon. Member for Waterford (Mr. Leamy) at the same time, Whether any official 648 information has yet been received at the Foreign Office respecting the decree for the suppression of The Bosphore Egyptien, published in Cairo; whether the decree was issued by the authority of Mr. Clifford Lloyd; whether it has the sanction of Her Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether a copy of the publication objected to will be laid upon the Table of the House? I would ask him, also, whether his attention has been called to the fact that another paper, The Oriental Mirror, has been suppressed by Mr. Clifford Lloyd?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIn answer to the hon. Members, I may state that no official information has been received at the Foreign Office; but I have already informed the House that the suspension of this newspaper is a matter with which the Egyptian Government are competent to deal, and is a question of administration about which Her Majesty's Government need not interfere. I cannot give the hon. Member any information about The Oriental Mirror.
§ MR. M'COANThe noble Lord has not answered a single section of the Question I put. I beg leave to give Notice that I shall put the Question again, when I hope to receive an answer. On an early day I shall call attention to the whole circumstances of this case.