HC Deb 20 July 1911 vol 28 cc1257-9
Mr. MacNEILL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Lord Kitchener's appointment to the position of British Agent and Consul-General for Egypt, in succession to Sir Eldon Gorst, will, as in the case of Sir Eldon Gorst, be a purely civil and diplomatic appointment, or will it in any way, and, if so, in what sense be military in its character and duties; if the appointment is in the nature of a military appointment, what provision, if any, will be taken to prevent the recurrence of the strained relations between the Khedive and Lord Kitchener, when Sirdar in 1894, which led Lord Kitchener then to offer to resign his position, the incident being closed by a reluctant and enforced apology from the Khedive, and the promotion to higher rank in the Army of Lord Kitchener; whether the appointment of Lord Kitchener to this post is a preliminary step to his holding with the consul-generalship a position of a distinctively military character; will Lord Kitchener continue to hold his public company directorships; whether, having regard to the feeling aroused by the grant of £50,000 to Lord Cromer on resignation of this office; and to the fact that Lord Kitchener has already received two grants of £30,000 and £50,000 from the public funds, will he say whether there is any intention to propose further contributions from the taxpayer to the Noble Lord for services in connection with this office?

Sir E. GREY

In answer to the first three paragraphs, Lord Kitchener will hold the purely civil and diplomatic appointment of His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in Egypt in succession to the late Sir Eldon Gorst. The appointment is in no sense military in its character, nor is it a preliminary step to his holding a military appointment in conjunction with that of His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General. With regard to the fourth question, Lord Kitchener will not hold any public company directorships which would be incompatible with the proper performance of his duties. The reply to the fifth paragraph, is that no proposal is being made for contributions from the taxpayer in connection with Lord Kitchener's appointment, except what were given to his predecessor.

Mr. MacNEILL

With regard to company directorships, as the right hon. Gentleman knows that, having regard to financial questions in Egypt, this is very important, I would ask who is to be the judge whether any of Lord Kitchener's company directorships are incompatible with his position?

Sir E. GREY

I do not up to the present moment know whether Lord Kitchener holds any directorships, or, if so, what they are. I cannot give any more explicit reply on the point until I know what the facts are.

Mr. MacNEILL

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know that he was, with a great flourish of trumpets, made a director of the South-Eastern Railway Company?

Sir WILLIAM BYLES

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the appointment of Lord Kitchener precludes a transference of military power to Egypt, and a movement of troops from Malta, and a concentration of forces in Egypt?

Sir E. GREY

I have already answered that the appointment does not involve any change of general policy in Egypt, and is not of a military character.

Mr. KING

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that those qualities of conciliation and concession which Lord Kitchener exhibited so successfully in the case of the Peace of Vereeniging will also be brought into requisition in the case of Egypt?