HC Deb 01 May 1928 vol 216 cc1524-5
Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD

(by private notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether anything has happened in Egypt in the last 24 hours which he would like to communicate to the House.

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Austen Chamberlain)

The reply of the Egyptian Government to the Note which I read yesterday has not yet been received. There is, therefore, nothing for me to add to the statement which I then made to the House.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the very categorical statement in the newspapers about British warships going to Egypt, and is he in a position to say whether these reports are accurate or not?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I should prefer to confine my statement to what I have already said to the House. If the Leader of the Opposition desires to press me further, I will reply. I do not want to put an undue responsibility upon the right hon. Gentleman, but I do not think I am called upon to say more in reply to the question.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

With very great respect, this is not the first time that warships have gone to Egypt. It is no new thing. It seems to be reported in all the newspapers, and why the secrecy on the part of the right hon. Gentleman?

Mr. THURTLE

Are we to take it from the attitude which the right hon. Gentleman has taken up on this occasion, that he is going to regard any question directed to him from Benches, other than the Front Bench, as being of no importance at all?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

No, Sir. I hope nothing in my attitude now, or at any time, will give that impression to the House.

Mr. SAKLATVALA

Does the right hon. Gentleman imply that, if it were made public that British warships are going to Egypt, public opinion would be that it is a very wrong thing to do?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

No. His Majesty's Government announced in the Note which they delivered to the Egyptian Government that, unless the Egyptian Government could give them the assurance for which they asked, they reserved to themselves the right to take such action as may be necessary. I think it more courteous to say nothing more until at least we have given the opportunity to the Egyptian Government to reply. That is the sole reason why I ask not to be pressed for a further statement.

Mr. SAKLATVALA

Is the despatch of warships also one of the acts of courtesy towards the Egyptian Government?