§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is now able to state the result of the inquiries which he has made into the treatment of the political prisoners in Egypt?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Colonel Sir Charles Wilson reports that, since the 17th of September, he has visited the prisons in Cairo frequently, that he saw and spoke to M. Ninet on three occasions, and that, if any of the prisoners had been treated with cruelty, he would almost certainly have heard of it. M. Ninet always expressed himself as satisfied with the treatment which he and his fellow-prisoners received, except that they were too crowded. Sir Charles found the prison authorities ready to adopt any suggestions which he made to them from time to time. He states that the cleanliness of the prisons and the treatment of the prisoners are in very marked contrast to what prevails in Turkish prisons, and he does not think the prisoners have any reasonable ground of complaint. There are 140 political prisoners. Sir Charles has 274 heard of no cases in Cairo of the application of thumb-screws, and, except condemned criminals, he has seen no men in chains. Sir Charles knows nothing of the Provinces. Cherif Pasha informed Sir Edward Malet a short while ago that there were very few prisoners in the Provinces. Sir Edward is awaiting answers to his Circular to Consular authorities on the subject. Consul West reports from Suez that there are only two political Prisoners there. M. Ninet was liberated from prison at Sir Edward Malet's request. Sir Charles Wilson and Colonel Stewart visited the prisons yesterday before drawing up the above Report.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONasked, whether his hon. Friend had seen the statement in the morning papers that some of the prisoners had been spat upon, threatened with death, beaten with slippers, and treated with contumely in other ways?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, several weeks ago a distinct statement was made about an insult said to have been offered to Arabi Pasha. The alleged insult is being made the subject of an inquiry, and I expect explanatory despatches shortly. Perhaps I may be in a position to give more explicit information on Monday, if my hon. Friend will ask me.