HC Deb 30 June 1908 vol 191 cc567-8
MR. MACKARNESS

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian Decree of 1895, which brought into existence the special tribunal which passed the Denshawai sentences in June, 1906, has been repealed; whether any steps have been taken to carry out the important modifications of that Decree recommended by Lord Cromer in July, 1906; and, if not, upon whose advice have those recommendations been ignored.

SIR EDWARD GREY

The Decree has not been repealed, but it does not of itself set up the special tribunal; that can only be done on the application of His Majesty's Consul-General, who has been instructed not to take this step without reference to His Majesty's Government. The special tribunal will not be again invoked till the modifications referred to have been made, and meanwhile we shall rely upon the ordinary tribunals.

MR. MACKARNESS

Did not Lord Cromer recommend that Amendments should be made which would prevent any public executions or floggings in the future?

SIR EDWARD GREY

These could only take place if the special tribunal was set up, which will not be the case.

MR. MACKARNESS

Does the Egyptian Government think it desirable to keep up a law of exceptional severity in the interest of the British Army of occupation and no one else?

SIR EDWARD GREY

That depends upon how the native tribunals do their work.