§ MR. KETTLEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a policeman, by name Mohammed Elal, of Abdin district, was on 19th March last sentenced to twenty-five lashes and nine months imprisonment for accepting a bribe of 4 piastres, equivalent to about l0d.; if so, whether he will instruct the 87 British agent in Egypt to recommend the discontinuance of flogging for slight offences, and in this instance the release of the prisoner; and whether he can say if all information with regard to this case was withheld from the Press, although a bureau for the dissemination of official news exists in Egypt.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have no information as to the alleged occurrence. I have no reason whatever to suppose that the disciplinary measures taken by the Egyptian Government to secure efficiency and prevent abuses in the police force are excessive or that there is any justification for interfering with their discretion in the matter.
§ MR. KETTLEWill the right hon. Baronet cause inquiries to be made into this particular case?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYNo, Sir, not unless I have reason to suppose anything occurred which would justify our intervention.