§ 3. Mr. GEOFFREY PETOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the disposal of the balance of the indemnity of £500,000 paid by Egypt rests with the British Government or the Sudan Government; and what portion of it will be allotted to the dependants of British soldiers who were killed in the mutiny which followed the murder of Sir Lee Stack?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe disposal of the indemnity rests with His Majesty's Government, whose decision will be based upon the recommendations of the Governor-General of the Sudan, and, as I informed the House on the 11th of February last, will only be taken after consultation with the Leaders of the Opposition parties. I would remind my hon. Friend that the application of the indemnity is confined to benevolent objects in the Sudan. It would not be available for the purposes suggested.
§ Mr. PETODoes the right hon. Gentleman not consider that the handing over of a portion of the indemnity fund to those who suffered from this series of attacks would he among the objects to which it may be devoted?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo. The purpose to which this fine of £500,000 was to be devoted was stated at the time by His Majesty's Government, and we cannot vary it when appropriating the amount.