HC Deb 12 November 1912 vol 43 cc1782-3
5. Mr. MORRELL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the statement that a Nationalist paper at Cairo, known as "Al Alam," has been suppressed by the Council of Ministers, owing to its having published an article attacking the present Ottoman Government and holding it responsible for the Turkish defeats; and whether this is held a sufficient reason for suppressing a paper?

Sir E. GREY

I have been informed by His Majesty's Agent and Consul-General at Cairo that the article in question was not only very insulting to the Turkish Grand Vizier, but was also calculated to endanger public security in Egypt. The Egyptian Council of Ministers have therefore suspended it. I am awaiting further information on the subject, but I see at present no reason to question the decision of the Egyptian authorities. I may add that "El Alam" has not only been previously warned, but has also lately been through a period of suspension for publishing, as I stated on 21st March, violent and untruthful articles of a nature to excite racial feeling and to provoke a breach of the peace.

Mr. MORRELL

Is not this the only paper representing the Nationalist party?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot say.

Forward to