HC Deb 10 December 1912 vol 45 cc223-4
1. Sir WILLIAM BYLES

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has any official knowledge of any serious Nationalist movement against the Government of Egypt; if not, can he inform the House what were the special instances which justified the severe sentence of ten years' imprisonment passed upon Ahmed Muktar for sedition; and whether the sentence is open either to appeal or review?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)

In regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question, he may have seen in the Press the report of the circumstances in which three individuals were condemned on the 13th of August last for conspiracy to assassinate His Highness the Khedive, the Egyptian Prime Minister, Lord Kitchener, and Magdi Pasha and Monsieur Dilberoglue, judges in the native Court of Appeal. I have received a report upon this case. With regard to the case referred to by my hon. Friend in a question on 28th November, I understand that Ahmed Mukhtar was arrested on arriving in Egypt with a number of copies of a seditious manifesto, advocating the systematic formation of terrorist societies for the assassination of Egyptian Government authorities.

In regard to the second part of this question, as I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to his question of 25th November, I have no official information respecting the sentence passed on this individual. In regard to the third part of this question, I added on 25th November that the matter is one within the competence of the Egyptian judicial authorities, and that no question arises as to approval by His Majesty's Government. I am awaiting a report on the case, and till this is received I cannot give more information about it.

Sir W. BYLES

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to answer the latter part of my question?

Sir E. GREY

I am awaiting a report and until I receive it I cannot give that information.

Mr. KEIR HARDIE

Will a translation of the alleged seditious document be laid upon the Table of the House for the information of Members?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot say until I have seen a report of the case.