§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that Lord Cromer, in his despatch of 8th March (Egypt, No. 3, 1907) complained that many of the eighty-five proposals laid before the Egyptian General Assembly were discussed in a very perfunctory manner, and that it was impossible in the space of three days to discuss them adequately, he will state upon whose initiative, and upon what grounds, the session of the Assembly was thus curtailed; and whether he will advise the Egyptian Government that in future the General Assembly should meet annually instead of, as at present, once in two years, and should be allowed sufficient time to deliberate on the proposals laid before it.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYWith regard to the first part of the hon. Member's Question I have no information, but will inquire. I am not at present aware of any reason for altering the regulations respecting the meeting of the Assembly, about which, so far as I know, no com plaint has been made.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire by telegraph?
§ Sir EDWARD GREYreplied in the negative.