§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the undertakings given by him and Lord Cromer, at various dates subsequent to the Denshawi executions, that the decree of 1895 relative to offences against the Army of Occupation would be superseded by another decree, he is in a position to state the time when such decree will be promulgated; and, if not, whether he can account for the delay in giving effect to the decision announced a year ago.
§ Sir EDWARD GREYBefore Lord Cromer's departure from Egypt it had already been found that the practical 768 difficulties in the way of reforming the special tribunal were very great, and it was therefore proposed temporarily to rely upon the ordinary law courts of Egypt. In the meanwhile there is no necessity to abrogate the decree of 1895, as the special tribunal can only be convoked on the application of His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General, who has been instructed not to take this step without previous reference to His Majesty's Government.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked if he was to understand that the undertaking given by the right hon. Gentleman had not been fulfilled and that there was no intention of fulfilling it.
§ Sir EDWARD GREYThe special tribunal is not now in existence, and so long as it is not in existence the decree cannot be promulgated.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLasked whether the right hon. Gentleman could not call it into existence by a stroke of the pen.
§ Sir EDWARD GREYThe undertaking I gave was that the tribunal should be called into existence when the reforms were introduced.