§ 9. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the new electoral law has been put into force in Egypt; whether he has received an assurance that the enforcement of this law would be in accordance with the Egyptian Constitution; and whether the date on which the new elections are to be held has yet been fixed?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe preparation of the new electoral lists necessitated by the law promulgated on 8th December is in progress with a view to elections being completed in May. Four electoral laws have been passed since the Constitution. Technical objection has been taken for one reason or another to all except the first law. The present law is, however, held by the legal advisers of the Council of Ministers to be in conformity with the principle laid down in the Constitution, that elections should be held on the basis of universal suffrage.