§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, as a result of official enforcements of Sunday observance in Egypt and of the concurrent intimidation practised by the Sunday Rest League of Cairo, Moslem workmen engaged in building operations there have to work upon Friday, their own religious rest-day, and to cease work upon Sundays; and whether he will urge upon the Egyptian Government the necessity of bringing official regulations and practice into conformity with the preferences of the mass of the population?
§ Sir E. GREYI have received no report on this subject. The matter is one of internal administration, as regards which the Egyptian Government are perfectly free to exercise their own discretion and are the best judges of what the preference of the population is.
§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSONMay I ask whether by the Egyptian Government he means the Ministers of the Khedive acting for themselves or under the English control that dictates to them?
§ Sir E. GREYI mean the Ministers of the Khedive acting under control.
§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSONWill the right hon. Gentleman assure us that they are free to use their discretion in such matters as this?
§ Sir E. GREYI should think they are, and I have not the least reason to suppose that there has been anything whatever done to interfere with their discretion.
§ Mr. J. M. ROBERTSONIs it suggested that the Ministers of the Khedive of their own choice caused workers and many officials in Cairo to abstain from work on Sunday and to work on their own sacred day?
§ Sir E. GREYI have not heard that they have done so, nor am I aware that there has been any complaint in the matter.