EGYPT (RIOTS). (Hansard, 26 May 1921)

§ Earl WINTERTON
I desire to ask the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the intention I expressed at question time if he has any information about the state of affairs in Cairo, and especially Alexandria. I raise this 460 question because some of us were rather alarmed to see in certain quarters this morning very serious news from Egypt, purporting to be accurate, which described Alexandria as being in a state of anarchy. I hope my hon. Friend will be able to assure us that this news is exaggerated. In all quarters of the House His Majesty's Government will receive the fullest support in probing to the bottom the cause of these most grave disturbances resulting in the death and wounding of a large number of Europeans as well as Egyptians, including many subjects of our Allies, and will support the Government in taking the fullest measures to visit upon those responsible the penalties for the very serious crime they have committed.

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)
I am very much obliged to my Noble Friend for giving me the opportunity of making a further statement in regard to the present situation in Egypt. I should say also that I have very little indeed to add to the statement I made at Question Time this afternoon. I then ventured to say that our official information from Egypt was both up-to-date and accurate. Since that time I have been in close touch with the Foreign Office, and was, up to a few moments ago, with one of my advisers in that Department. I have really nothing to add to what I said at Question time. The House, I am sure, will be relieved to learn that our information from Egypt comes very close up to the moment at which we are sitting this evening. We have three of four telegrams from Lord Allenby, which were despatched from Egypt at precisely this time last night, and those telegrams confirm the view held in the Foreign Office that the information given, not in all the Press, but in some part of the Press, with regard to the situation in Egypt has been overstated. The House will agree with me in regarding any kind of outrage in Egypt as a matter of grave importance, but I am glad to be able to reassure the House that, as I say, some statements have been made in terms of exaggeration. A telegram, despatched at. 11.15 last night, and received here at 11.30 this morning, reports that the situation during the 24 hours ending Wednesday night was as follows:—Alexandria was quiet under military administration. The provinces 461 were quiet, but most of the trunk telephone lines to Cairo had been cut between Alexandria and Damanhur. Normal communication has, however, been restored. At Cairo there were persistent rumours of demonstrations which, however, did not materialise. These rumours caused much anxiety amongst Europeans, and most shops were shut in consequence. The employés in the railway workshops, and in the workshops belonging to the Ministry of Public Works have gone on strike, and British troops have been ordered to stand by in case of necessity. It will interest the House if I give the terms of a pacifying communiqué issued by Lord Allenby last night. I cannot give the full terms, because we have not received them, but I will give a paraphrase we have received from Lord Allenby. Lord Allenby published a communiqué yesterday. Having alluded to the disturbances, he stated that, while he does not intervene in Egyptian party politics, he is ultimately responsible for maintaining law and order. In this communiqué Lord Allenby points out that His Majesty's Government have investigated Egyptian grievances, and are now seeking to remedy them. They have invited the Sultan to appoint a delegation, which has been nominated. There is no restriction on the freedom of the delegates nor on the subjects which they may discuss. His Majesty's Government have made a declaration as to the objects of the negotiations, but beyond the assurance given therein no concession can be made in advance. Lord Allenby states that His Majesty's Government offer their friendship and await the response of Egypt, and concludes by saying that, while it is not for him to advise as to the nature of the response, he has the interests of Egypt at heart and expresses the hope that patriotism and a sense of realities will lead Egyptians, appreciating the British policy of friendship, to follow the path of peace and conciliation in their dealings with each other.
Those Members of the House who follow the proceedings in Egypt with care and attention will understand, I think, without any explanation from me, why Lord Allenby's communication has taken this form. For the rest, I think I may say that this House, as I can say for the Government, has the most com- 462 plete confidence in Lord Allenby, and I will ask the House not to take an unduly anxious view of a situation which, of necessity, must cause solicitude in the minds of those who have an interest in the future of Egypt.

Major BARNES
We are indebted to the Noble Lord for drawing attention to this subject, and getting the statement which has been made by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. While I am quite sure the Noble Lord is perfectly right in assuming that every Member of this House will support the Government in taking all the necessary measures and precautions in Egypt to protect the lives of those of our countrymen and others of foreign nations who are there, I think that the Noble Lord will probably agree with me that the House will also support the Government in everything that they do really to probe, as he said, this subject to the bottom, to ascertain what are the real grievances of the Egyptian people, and to do all that is possible in our power to meet those grievances.

§ Earl WINTERTON
Perhaps I did not quite sufficiently convey that I wanted to probe to the bottom the question of the responsibility for these outrages. It may not be Egyptians who are the cause, but somebody must be responsible for this very serious outbreak, which has resulted in this regrettable loss of life.

Major BARNES
I quite appreciate the Noble Lord's position, and I am sure we all wish to find out who is responsible, and that responsibility should be placed on the proper shoulders, and that the consequences should follow. I am also sure he is anxious that the whole Egyptian situation should be probed to the bottom, and that all that can be done should be done. I am sure both the House and the country, and the Egyptians themselves, must be glad to find that such military measures as are being taken are being accompanied by evidence of a pacific spirit, and a desire for the welfare of the Egyptian people themselves, which is shown in General Allenby's communication.