§ SIR A. CHAMBERLAIN'S STATEMENT.
§ 10. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons which have led up to the reorganisation of the Egyptian Army; what is the nature of the new scheme; and whether, before it is brought into operation, it will require the sanction of the Egyptian Parliament as well as that of the King of Egypt?
§ 7. Sir FRANK NELSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement as to the position of affairs in Egypt?
§ 11. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any statement to make on the situation in Egypt; and will he state the reason why British warships have been sent to Alexandria?
§ 19. Mr. SAKLATVALAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why His Majesty's ships "Barham," "Malaya," and "Royal Sovereign" have been ordered to Egypt for duty?
§ 20. Mr. AMMONasked the First, Lord of the Admiralty whether he will inform the House as to the reason for ordering the battleships "Barham," "Royal Sovereign," and "Malaya" to Egypt?
§ 22. Mr. THURTLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why certain British warships have recently been ordered to proceed to Egypt?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIt will be convenient that I should take these questions together.
For some time past, the Egyptian Army has attracted the attention of a section of Egyptian politicians. The aims of this section are, firstly, to increase the existing numbers of the army, and strengthen its armament, and ultimately to convert it into a weapon at the disposal of one political party, the Wafd.
These projects are a matter of direct concern to His Majesty's Government. The defence of the Suez Canal is one of our vital interests, and protection of foreigners one of our obligations, and we 361 cannot permit our task to be complicated by the presence of a potentially hostile force, such as there is good reason to fear the Egyptian Army might become if subversive influences were to be allowed full play.
Some days ago, the War Committee of the Egyptian Parliament published its recommendations to the Chamber of Deputies. These recommendations included the raising of the establishment of the infantry battalions, an increase in strength and armament of the artillery, the acquisition of numbers of machine guns, and, finally, the cancellation of the budgetary credit for the Sirdarate. The British Inspector-General of the Egyptian Army is at present Acting Sirdar, or Commander-in-Chief. The object of the recommendation in question is to transfer this officer's functions, in the main, to the Minister of War. The party in power would, as a result, be enabled to exercise for their own purposes, unchecked political influence over the army.
After consultation with His Majesty's Government, the High Commissioner addressed a Note to the Egyptian Government on Monday last. In the Note was set forth our view that the whole question was one in which Egypt and Great Britain were both interested and which should properly form the subject of an agreed settlement. This, we considered, could be so framed as to meet the best interests of both countries.
We are ready at once to open negotiations for this purpose, but until agreement has been reached, we must insist upon the maintenance of safeguards which past experience has shown to be effective.
In the meanwhile, reports indicated that efforts were being made to foment political excitement. This, in the past, has led to serious excesses, as at Alexandria in 1921, and it was decided to despatch three warships to Egyptian waters in the belief that their presence would exercise a restraining effect on those disorderly elements which constitute the chief danger to the lives and interests of foreigners.
Conversations between Lord Lloyd and the Egyptian Government are in progress, and in these circumstances it would be undesirable for me to add to the statement which I have just made, 362 and I trust the House will not press me further upon it.
§ Mr. CLYNESI do not rise to question at this moment the policy of sending warships while agreement is being sought, but I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether at some early date Papers may be laid before the House and an opportunity given to discuss the policy of the Government?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIt would have been my desire to communicate to the House to-day the text of the Note which, on instructions from His Majesty's Government, Lord Lloyd addressed to the Government of Egypt, but I felt it was more courteous to the Egyptian Government to leave them time to consider it before any publication and that I should thus be best serving the interests of both countries. I am quite sure I need not say that the Government do not wish to escape discussion at the proper time or the presentation to the House of such information as it may he then possible to lay, but I cannot commit myself more precisely at this moment.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI do not want to press the right hon. Gentleman on the main part of his answer but, accepting the justice of his standpoint, why is it necessary at this stage to send three super-Dreadnoughts to Egyptian ports?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have given the reasons why this step has been taken, and why it has been thought desirable that warships should be sent. I hope they will prevent the possibility of untoward incidents which could not but re-act to the disadvantage of Egypt and would be regretted by us all.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAWill the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House why the control of the Egyptian Army by representatives of the authorised Government of Egypt is supposed to be more obnoxious than the governmental and political control of the armies of Great Britain or France or America by their respective Governments?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not think it would be convenient that I should attempt to enter into an argument upon this subject. I am quite certain that, if I did so, I should not serve, any 363 more than my questioner, the interests of that friendly settlement which I hope may be obtained.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see that before he can have a reply or before out Note has been published and before there is any open disagreement, it is very unfortunate that we should take this initial step of sending these Dreadnoughts?
Mr. BECKETTDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it best calculated to promote a peaceful settlement, to overturn the decision of the majority of the Egyptian people by the despatch of battleships?