§ 65. Earl WINTERTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, despite the promise of protection given to them on behalf of the High Commission in Egypt at the time of the trial, the majority of the witnesses for the prosecution in the trial of divers persons for the murder of British officers and men at Assiut in March have themselves been murdered; and if he is aware of the grave injury to British prestige which these fresh murders have caused?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)His Majesty's Government have no official information as to witnesses for the prosecution in the Deirout train murders trial having been murdered, but inquiry is being made. The answer to the latter part of the Noble Lord's question is in the negative.
§ Earl WINTERTONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that I have positive information from a high source in Egypt that these men have been murdered, and in view of this very serious matter will he expedite inquiries, and will be telegraph out?
Mr. HARMSWOFITHYes, and I shall be glad if my Noble Friend will put me on the track of that information.
§ Earl WINTERTONI will.
66. The Noble Lordasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many cases have occurred since 1st May last in which officers and men of the British Force in Egypt have been assaulted and fired at when not on duty; in how many cases the officers and men have been killed or wounded; and how many arrests for these outrages have been made?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)I have been asked to reply. From 1st May, 1919, to 1st November, 1919, no cases of assault on. British troops when not on duty were reported, but since this latter date British officers or soldiers have been assaulted or fired at on six occasions. The total casualties were one officer killed and three men wounded. No arrests have been made for these outrages, as the assailants escaped in each case.
§ Earl WINTERTONCan my right hon. Friend give a denial to the statements that have appeared that there have been 905 frequent assaults upon soldiers, who have been fired on by the mobs when off duty, between the months of May and November; will he deny those statements which have appeared in the Press?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI had not that part of the subject in my mind. I am dealing only with assaults on British troops when not on duty.
§ Earl WINTERTONCould he say if it is a fact that the men, when off duty, have been assaulted between May and November, frequently, by the mob, and has he no official report on the subject?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAssaulted and fired on?
§ Earl WINTERTONNo, assaulted.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question has been interpreted in the sense of an assault with firearms. If my Noble Friend would like an answer with regard to the number of assaults made without firearms I will make inquiries about it.