§ 1 Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say when His Majesty's Government propose to allow the Egyptian Assembly to meet, or, alternatively, to allow a General Election to be held; and when it is expected that a decision as to the policy for the future government of Egypt will be arrived at and submitted to Parliament?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)It rests with the Egyptian Government to decide when to summon the Assembly or to hold a General Election. The present Ministry, on taking office, expressed their intention of doing both after the conclusion of negotiations with His Majesty's Government. Inasmuch as the Delegation which is to discuss the terms of settlement with His Majesty's 2126 Government has not yet left Egypt, it would obviously be premature to attempt at this stage to say how long their labours will last or when they will be ended.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that the Commander-in-Chief in Egypt proposed to hold an election, at any rate, under the last Government? Was not a practical agreement come to by Lord Milner, and why are the Government not proceeding on that basis?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHThe last part of the question is very argumentative. As to the first part, I should require notice.