§ 23. Mr. MILLSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mr. Young, the chief inspector under the Ministry of the Interior, was present at an interview on 13th October between the Mudir of Assiut, Badreddin Bey, the Controller of Public Security, and a number of members of the Committee of Reception to Zaghloul Pasha, where it was stated that the police commandant had just declared in the presence of the President and five other judges of the Assiut Native Court, and of others, that there were armed men in the house of Mahfouz Pasha and in other places near the landing slip of the steamer on which Zaghloul Pasha was at the time; that he had also announced that other armed bands would arrive by the evening train, and that these men were all to be used to prevent Zaghloul Pasha from landing, to attack him in the streets if they failed to prevent his landing, and to attack the reception tent if he reached it: that the police commandant, on being asked why the police did not prevent this, replied that the Government wished it, and that Badreddin Bey had accused him of being a Zaghloulist because he protested; and will he say whether Mr. Young made any protest against this action?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)I have no information with regard to the alleged incident.
§ Mr. SWANWill the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of changing this policy, and is he aware that Zaghloul Pasha, who has the whole of Egyptian opinion behind him—[HON. MEMBERS: "No!")—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must not make a speech.
§ Mr. SWANIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Zaghloul Pasha is deliberately prevented from visiting various points of welcome in Egypt, and will not the Government consider the advisability of giving him scope to visit any part where the public require him to attend, without menacing him and all his people?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question on the Paper.
§ Mr. SWANOn a point of Order. That supplementary question arises out of the question on the Paper.
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo. This is about a particular incident.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is asking a general question.
§ Mr. MILLSOn a point of Order. May I submit that this question concerns the whole question of the freedom of movement of an individual in the country of Egypt, and, as such, a supplementary question, in my opinion, is in order.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid that it is my opinion that counts in this matter.