§ 21. Mr. SWANasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British authorities in the Sudan lately have been busy in inducing the Sudanese to sign declarations to the effect that they wish the Sudan to be separated from Egypt; whether a Sudanese delegation will be sent to London for the purpose of putting these declarations before the authorities here; and whether Lord Allenby, on his recent visit, took the opportunity of ascertaining what was the Sudanese attitude on this question?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have no information as to the prospect of a Sudanese delegation coming to London and am unable to reply to the last part of the question, since Lord Allenby's report on his recent tour in the Sudan has not yet been received.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYAre we to understand that the status of the Sudan has not been changed in the last 12 months?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise here.
§ Mr. SWANIs the Noble Lord aware that many of the Sudanese have recently declared a desire to be represented in the Egyptian Parliament, and to be elected there, and there are still protests being made by the inhabitants of the Province 2364 of Khartoum against separation on the ground that Egypt and the Sudan are indivisible?
§ Earl WINTERTONMy information is to the directly opposite effect, and I regret the hon. Gentleman should make himself the channel for an allegation which is without any foundation whatever.
§ Mr. SWANWill the Noble Lord say if he has any information—if he has really any knowledge—of what I am stating as a fact? I am not a medium of communicating allegations.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it in order for an occupant of the Treasury Bench, or any other hon. Member or Noble Lord, to make an insinuation against another hon. Member, as to being used as a channel for information?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is the business of hon. Members to be sure of the foundations of their questions before putting them on the Paper, but I am afraid hon. Members do not always do so.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYMay I ask again whether there has been any change in status as between the Sudan and Egypt during the last 12 months?
§ Earl WINTERTONI should require notice of that, but to the best of my belief there has been no such alteration.