§ MR. WISEsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether Her Majesty's Government will lay upon the table of the House Copies of the New Police Ordinance issued by the Viceroy of Egypt, and of a Petition recently presented to the Queen from the British inhabitants of Cairo, complaining of the withdrawal of most important privileges enjoyed for many years by our countrymen in the Turkish dominions; and whether Her Majesty's Government consider these new regulations to be in accordance with the treaties now existing between the Queen of England and the Sultan.
MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALDsaid, that at the close of last year a representation was made to the Egyptian Government, in consequence of the insecurity of life and property at Cairo, that it was advisable that new Police Regulations should be issued. This suggestion was made by the European Consuls resident at Cairo, and accordingly in the month of March last new Police Regulations, which had been previously submitted to the European Consuls, were issued. Some dissatisfaction had been expressed by the European community; and, in consequence of the representations made to him, the noble Lord at the head Of the Foreign Department submitted these regulations to the law officers of the Crown, who advised him that in some respects they were likely to be oppressive, and that they trenched upon some of the privileges which had hitherto been enjoyed by European residents. In consequence of this opinion our Consul had been instructed to use all means open to him in order to obtain the modification, and, if necessary, the abrogation of those portions of the regulations which were considered offensive. There would be no objection to 1084 lay upon the table of the House papers which would give the hon. Gentleman the information which he desired.