§ 7. Major Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that there are large numbers of civilians of British and Allied nationality in Egypt and the Sudan of military age; and if steps can be taken, after consultation with the Allies, to impose Conscription upon all such persons with a choice of service in the various Allied or British Armies, subject to the safeguarding of the efficiency of the Egyptian Civil Service and Egyptian industries?
§ Lord R. CECILI will certainly see that the suggestion of my Noble Friend is immediately considered by the competent Departments here and in Egypt.
§ 8. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the present small per centum quota of native Egyptians conscripted for the Egyptian Army could be largely increased without prejudice to the essential industries of Egypt; and if native Egyptians, whom the ballot for Conscription selects under the present system, can escape Conscription by legal enactment on payment of £20s Egyptian?
§ Lord R. CECILMy Noble Friend will no doubt recollect that by the Proclamation of 6th November, 1914, Great Britain took upon herself the whole burden of the War as far as Egypt was concerned, and His Majesty's Government are advised that it would be undesirable to withdraw or amend this Proclamation at present. Recruitment in Egypt is therefore being left upon a voluntary basis, but a thorough recruiting campaign is in operation and has been attended with creditable results. Notwithstanding the Proclamation, the Egyptian Government have 2014 made most generous contributions to the cost of the War.
§ Earl WINTERTONWill the Government take into consideration the fact that since this declaration of November, 1914, was made, the situation has radically altered owing to the fact that the King of the Hedjaz and his Arabs are on our side?
§ Lord R. CECILI will certainly take care that that fact is brought to the notice of the Egyptian authorities.