LORD RAGLANMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether a scheme for compensation to discharged British officials of the Egyptian Civil Service put forward by the High Commissioner has been rejected by the Egyptian Government; and, if so, what steps are being taken to protect the interests of these officials.
The position of British Civil Servants in Egypt is even more unsatisfactory than that of those in India. Not only do they see positions to which they expected to be promoted filled by Egyptians, but the tenure of the offices which they now hold is extremely precarious, and the general deterioration in the character of the administration since the grant of independence makes it difficult for them to derive any satisfaction from the performance of their duties. Many of them are, therefore, anxious to resign, but the British Government, under whose auspices they took up this employment, instead of guaranteeing them compensation, has only made tentative proposals to the Prime Minister of Egypt, which the latter has rejected. In these circumstances the officials feel that the British Government, which has already betrayed them by promising them a career in Egypt, may betray them again, and they are extremely anxious to know in what position they stand both in regard to the Egyptian Government and in regard to the British Government.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, on May 29 I gave to VOUT Lordships a pretty full statement about the position as it then existed in relation to compensation for officials in Egypt, whether British or non-British, whose position was changed with the changed status of Egypt. Your Lordships were then informed that Lord Allenby had been instructed to take up the matter with the Egyptian Government. Since that date Lord Allenby has been in close; communication with the British officials concerned. He has consulted with them, and a scheme was recently drawn up which took into account both the principles laid down by His Majesty's Government in the negotiations with the Egyptian Delegation last year, and the suggestions of the Government actuary. This scheme was not drawn entirely to safeguard the interests of British officials; it applied to others as well. But it was approved by a Committee of all the British advisers to the 408 Egyptian Government, and Lord Allenby himself looked upon it as a fair and equitable solution. While, it is true, it might not satisfy certain of the more extreme demands that were advanced it represented a compromise which ought to be acceptable to both sides. It was presented to the Egyptian Government at the beginning of June, but I regret to say that as yet they have not seen their way to accept it.
The King's Government is fully alive to the fact that the change in the status of Egypt completely alters the situation of non-Egyptian officials, both as regards their future prospects and the actual conditions under which they are at present serving. For this reason, both in London and in Cairo the greatest possible care has been taken to devote every attention to the elaboration of some scheme by which these officials whom the Egyptian Government might elect to dismiss, and also those who reasonably felt that their prospects were so much impaired by the changed régime as to justify them in resigning, should receive adequate compensation, in addition to the pension to which, under existing law, they are entitled. Moreover, the applicability of these principles to temporary as well as to permanent officials has been insisted upon.
The Government regard the apprehension which at present exists among foreign officials of all classes in Egypt as perfectly natural, and I therefore welcome this opportunity of assuring your Lordships that His Majesty's Government are determined to protect the legitimate interests of those officials who may be dismissed or who may wish to retire.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDThe duty rests upon the Egyptian Government. It is not the duty of the British Government to give this guarantee.
LORD RAGLANIt was the British Government which recruited these officials, not the Egyptian Government, who had nothing to do with their original appointment.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDI think the noble Lord is aware that the Egyptian Government has undertaken to carry this responsibility.