§ Mr. JOHN ROBERTSONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the unsatisfactory position of the new Egyptian University; whether he is aware that it is substantially under the control of Prince Fuad, in whose absence the committee do not meet, and that thus far conducted merely as a night school; whether he will advise the Egyptian Government to consider the expediency of placing the university for the present under the control or supervision of the Ministry of Public Instruction; and whether he will suggest that the same course be taken in regard to the University Mission, under which students are sent to European universities, and which is at present under the unchecked control of Prince Fuad.
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe answer to the first question is in the negative. All the information which I have is contained in the late Sir Eldon Gorst's Annual Report's, and I would refer the hon. Member to that for 1907, which shows the nature of Prince Fuad's connection with the university, and to those for 1908, 1909, and 1910, which give further information respecting the inauguration and progress of the institution. I consider that it must be left to the Egyptian Government to decide on the form of control and supervision to be exercised over the Egyptian University and the University Mission.