§ MR. A. E. PEASE (York)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government are prepared to take any steps to prevent the transit of slaves brought by pilgrims from Mecca through the Suez Canal; and, whether the recent dismissal of M. Zananiri by the Egyptian Government has any relation to the activity shown by him in stopping the transit of such slaves at Suez?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (MR. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)Her Majesty's Government have not received recent Reports that the practice of pilgrims bringing slaves from Mecca through the Suez Canal is on the increase; but instructions are being sent to Sir Evelyn Baring to report whether this is the case, and what can be done in the matter. All such action as Her Majesty's Government can legally take to prevent the transit of slaves through the Canal has been, and will continue to be, taken. As regards the second paragraph of the Question, 57 M. Zananiri has laid his case before Her Majesty's Government, and it has been referred to Sir H. Drummond Wolff for observations.