HC Deb 18 March 1919 vol 113 c1880
4. Mr. INSKIP

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether his Attention has been called to a letter written by Sir W. E. Brunyate, Judicial Adviser to the Sultan of Egypt, on 10th January, 1919, and published in "La Bourse Egyptienne" on 6th February, 1919, and also in "La Gazette des Tribunaux," in which he refers to the objections of the mixed Bar to the proposed use of the English language in the Courts of the British Protectorate of Egypt, and seeks to reassure the mixed Bar on this point, and expresses a hope that no preference will be granted to the English language; whether the letter of Sir W. E. Brunyate has the approval of His Majesty's Government; and what action it is proposed to take?

Mr. WARD

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative, but the language used by Sir W. Brunyate does not appear to bear the construction placed upon it, as he only expresses a purely personal opinion, that so long as any widespread demand continues to exist for facilities for hearing cases in French, those facilities ought to be provided. Sir W. Brunyate repeats in the last paragraph of his letter that he is writing in his own name. As regards the last part of the question, His Majesty's Government do not contemplate taking any action in the matter.