§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he could give any information as to the cause of the recent affray between Egyptians and British officers; whether the British officers were in uniform and were engaged in the performance of any military duty at the time; by what tribunal it was proposed to try the Egyptians concerned in the disturbance; and whether the trial will take place in public?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe information which we have received hitherto states that, during a march of mounted infantry from Cairo to Alexandria, five British officers were attacked by natives whilst shooting pigeons in a village near Tantah. One officer has died from the effects of the injuries he received, and two others are badly injured. The actual cause of the attack has not yet been ascertained, and it is not known whether the officers were at the time in uniform. The matter will be dealt with under a Khedival decree of February 25th, 1895, which institutes a special tribunal to deal with crimes of violence against officers and men of the Army of Occupation. The meetings of the tribunal will be held in public. The facts of the case cannot be thoroughly known until the judicial inquiry has taken place.
§ MR. DILLONasked whether the right hon. Gentleman proposed to allow these Egyptians to be sent before the special tribunal before it had been proved that the officers were in uniform and were engaged in the performance of military duties.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThat is a point on which we have not yet received full information. We cannot tell without inquiry how far that point would affect the question of the tribunal before which the case should come.
§ MR. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman direct the attention of the Egyptian authorities to that point?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYWe are expecting more information. I will bear that point in mind.