§ 22. Mr. SWANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the present martial law in Egypt is under the Proclamation of the 2nd November, 1914; and whether there is any precedent for the maintenance of martial law by one independent state in the territory of another when the two are at war?
§ Mr. SWANWill the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question? Is it compatible with Section 11 of the Proclamation and Section 10?
Mr. HARMSWORTHIf my hon. Friend wishes to ask about actual incidents, perhaps he will put down a question.
§ Mr. SWANI was invited to put down this question last week, and now it is put aside and I am asked to put down another question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Under-Secretary has answered both parts of the question.
§ 23. Mr. SWANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what Section of the Declaration to Egypt of 21st February, 1922, the answer to the 671 question of whether it is His Majesty's Government or the Egyptian Government which is responsible for the continuance of martial law can be found?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI will read the relevant Section, which constitutes the second of the three principles laid down in the Declaration of His Majesty's Government to Egypt—
So soon as the Government of His Highness shall pass an Act of Indemnity with application to all inhabitants of Egypt, martial law as proclaimed on the 2nd November, 1914, shall be withdrawn.
§ Mr. SWANIs it not a fact that it is impossible to have the indemnity until there has been an election, so that the Parliament may decide it? Was it not presumed, when the Proclamation was issued, that martial law would be raised, and how can it he raised unless there is an election?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI am sorry that I cannot satisfy my hon. Friend's thirst for information. I have given him all the facts for which he asked.