§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to give any further information as to the attack on British officers in Egypt; whether the officers were in uniform or in the execution of any military duty when the affray took place; whether he can give the text of that portion of the Khedivial decree under which the accused are to be sent for trial before the special tribunal; who decides in such cases whether accused are to be tried before the special tribunal or the ordinary courts; and what provision has been made for the defence of the prisoners.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe officers were in uniform when the affray took place. The text of the sixth Article of the Khedivial decree (translated from the French) is as follows:—"All crimes and misdemeanours committed by natives against soldiers or officers of the British Army shall continue, in principle, to be tried by the native tribunals. They shall only be dealt with by the special tribunal in special cases when the Agent and Consul of Great Britain shall, at the request of the General Commanding the army of occupation, and in agreement with him, so demand of the Minister for Foreign Affairs." Article 4 of the decree gives the accused the right to have an advocate