HC Deb 03 May 1920 vol 128 cc1698-700
44 Lieut.-Colonel MALONE

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have taken legal advice concerning the position of Egypt according to the established principles of international jurisprudence, in view of the pledges of Lord Salisbury, Mr. Gladstone, Lord Derby, and other British statesmen on behalf of the British Government on numerous occasions since 1884, and the Anglo-French agreement of 8th April, 1904?

Mr. SHORTT

The answer is in the negative.

55. Lieut.-Colonel MALONE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state what is the number of British civil servants who have been appointed to the administration of Egypt in Egypt since August, 1914?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

I have not the figures by me to enable me to reply to the question in the form requested by the hon. and gallant Member, but on 20th April I circulated with the OFFICIAL REPORT very complete information as to the present composition of the Egyptian Civil Service, and I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to these figures.

56. Lieut.-Colonel MALONE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is a fact that just prior to the arrival of the Milner Mission in Egypt Abrahm Pasha Said, member of the Legislative Assembly, Kamel Hussein, lawyer, Mahmoud Pasha Suliman, aged 98 years, Amin Ez Arab, lawyer, Sergius Coptic, priest, Ali Bey Maher, judge, Sanout Bey Hanna, member of the Legislative Assembly and of the delegation, Atif Bey Barakat, principal of the School of Law, Patella Pasha Bakarat, brother of above and a member of the Legislative Assembly, and Ismail Pasha Siddy, ex-minister, were deported or imprisoned; and, if so, what was the reason for these deportations or imprisonments?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

These gentlemen were the principal organisers and leaders of the disturbances which took place in Cairo and Alexandria last November. They were in some cases ordered to retire to their estates, and on their refusal to do so arrested; in other cases the arrests were made subsequent to the delivery of inflammatory speeches by them. All restrictions on their movements were removed as soon as quiet was restored.

Captain W. BENN

Were they brought to trial for the offence just described or just charged?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

I should like notice.

Lieut.-Colonel MALONE

Are we to assume that they were punished and deported for holding opinions contrary to the British Government?