§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir Eldon Gorst's statement that Egypt already had a constitution that had been laid down by the organic law, and that the British people were quite ready to co-operate with the Egyptians for its gradual extension as fast as the intellectual standard of the population warranted such a course, is an official declaration of the British Government being ready so to co-operate.
I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Sir Eldon Gorst's statement to the effect that there was absolutely no truth in the report that Great Britain would shortly proclaim a protectorate over Egypt or was considering the question of annexation, and that Great Britain had given solemn pledges to Turkey and to the European Powers to respect the Sultan's rights in Egypt and did not desire to go back on that engagement, may be taken as an official declaration of the British Government's pledges and its policy in regard to Egypt.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. MCKINNON WOOD,) Glasgow, St. RolloxMy right hon. friend begs to reply to the hon. Member's two Questions on this subject together. The language used by Sir Eldon Gorst is correctly quoted, and is approved by His Majesty's Government.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDasked whether Sir Eldon Gorst's statement was to be taken as a declaration of policy on the part of the Government.
§ MR. MCKINNON WOODI have really answered that Question.