Captain CRAIGasked whether Mr. John Selden Willmore, whose services as a judge in the Native Court of Appeal in Cairo have recently been dispensed with by the Egyption Government, is the gentleman referred to in the Secretary of State's reply in this House in June, 1907, as being fully qualified for his office; and whether anything has occurred since that date to lead the Secretary of State to alter the opinion then expressed by him?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe gentleman mentioned is the one who was referred to in June, 1907, as being fully qualified in regard to his legal training for the office which he then held. I have no reason to alter the opinion then expressed.
Mr. McKINNON WOODThat was a matter for the Egyptian Government, in which they acted on their own discretion.
§ Mr. GOULDINGasked whether Mr. John Selden Willmore, whose contract as a judge of appeal after twenty years' service the Egyptian Government has lately terminated, is a member of the Levant Consular service and an Arabic scholar; is Arabic the only language employed in the Egyptian Native courts; had the Egyptian Government, some months prior to the expiration of Mr. Willmore's contract, entered into negotiations with a Belgian gentleman with a view to his replacing Mr. Willmore; whether Mr. Willmore at that time protested both to the Egyptian Government and to the Foreign Office, or to either of them, against his removal; and had the Belgian gentleman in question any previous knowledge either of Egypt or of the Arabic language?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Gentleman in question was lent from the Levant Consular Service for service in the Native Court of Appeal. At the time of his appointment to that court he had a thorough knowledge of Arabic, which he no doubt retains. A Belgian judge has been appointed to the Native Court of Appeal, but I have no knowledge of the negotiations leading to his appointment. He was no doubt fully qualified for the post. Mr. Willmore protested against his proposed removal both to the Egyptian Government and to His Majesty's Government.
Mr. McKINNON WOODI have already stated that I have no knowledge of the negotiations which led to the appointment.
§ Mr. GOULDINGHas the. Government considered the protest of Mr. Willmore?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe Government have no right to interfere in the matter. Mr. Willmore retained his position for four periods of five years, and the Egyptian Government is within its rights in not renewing his appointment. He was only appointed for five years.