§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement to the House regarding the situation in Egypt.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes. Sir. As the House is aware, the time limit fixed by our Note for a reply from the Egyptian Government will expire at 7 p.m. to-night, Egyptian time. The Egyptian Prime Minister handed Lord Lloyd the answer of the Egyptian Government at 10 p.m. last night—again 1723 Egyptian time—and that reply reached me this morning. The reply, a rather hasty translation of which I have here, is a lengthy document, which I propose to issue for publication in to-morrow's papers. I believe it will satisfy the immediate wishes of the right hon. Gentleman and of the House if I confine myself at this moment to reading the further Note, which, as a consequence, His Majesty's Government have sent to Lord Lloyd for presentation to Nahas Pasha.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCannot we have a summary of the first one?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIn order to give any account of the first one. I should have to read the whole. I believe the reply which I am about to give will be sufficient to satisfy the House at this moment, on the assurance that publication in to-morrow morning's papers will take place. The following is the Note:
YOUR EXCELLENCY,I duly conveyed to my Government by telegraph the contents of Your Excellency's Note of 1st May, and I am now instructed to state in reply that His Majesty's Government have learned with satisfaction that in compliance with the request of His Majesty's Government and in pursuance of the advice tendered by Your Excellency and the Egyptian Government the Senate decided not to proceed with the Assemblies Bill during the present session. His Majesty's Government take note of your assurance that this decision has been taken in conformity with the ardent desire of the Egyptian Government to reach an understanding and their conciliatory sentiments. They are therefore entitled to assume that the Egyptian Government will be careful to avoid any revival of the controversy which has led to the present crisis.2. His Majesty's Government observe, however, that the intentions of the Egyptian Government respecting the future 'of this Bill are not explicitly stated in Your Excellency's Note. In these circumstances, they think it well to make it clear, in terms which do not admit of misinterpretation, that they regard certain provisions of the Bill as calculated seriously to weaken the hands of the administrative authorities responsible for the maintenance of order and for the protection of foreign lives and property. If, therefore, the Measure in question were to be revived, or if other Measures were introduced which in their view presented similarly dangerous features, His Majesty's Government would again be obliged to intervene, as in the present instance, to prevent their enactment.17243. His Majesty's Government can enter into no discussion respecting the Declaration of February, 1922. One of the consequences of that instrument was to entail upon His Majesty's Government the responsibility for the protection of foreign interests in Egypt. It will be clear from the preceding paragraph, that His Majesty's Government are resolved at all times to insist upon a precise discharge of its terms. This Declaration embodies the conditions subject to which independence was accorded to Egypt; and His Majesty's Government will not permit it to be either modified or disregarded.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Note of the Egyptian Prime Minister, which he is not able to give the House now, for reasons which, I must say, I do not appreciate, is not couched in friendly terms, as has been stated in the newspapers; and, that being the case, does he consider that the tone of the Note which he has just read to the House is equally friendly?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIn the Note which I have just read to the House we take note of the fact that the Egyptian Government state that their
decision has been taken in conformity with the ardent desire of the Egyptian Government to reach an understanding and their conciliatory sentiments.I think that is a sufficient answer. The Note which Lord Lloyd has been instructed to deliver is a perfectly courteous and conciliatory Note and is, as was necessary in the circumstances, as explicit as it is friendly.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALADoes the right hon. Gentleman not consider that it would greatly assist the furtherance of world peace and also the lessening of armament expenditure if he were completely to withdraw British representatives from Egypt and leave all matters of dispute between Egypt and this country to the League of Nations, in which the right hon. Gentleman wants the whole world to believe?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo. I think the withdrawal of the British forces from Egypt would lead to immediate confusion and not-long-delayed war.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the right hon. Gentleman now say, for the information of the country, whether at his request or with his approval British warships were sent to Egypt?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes. In consequence of what passed, His Majesty's Government thought it necessary to give directions for certain ships to sail for Egypt. In consequence of the Note which I have just read, I have now given instructions for those orders to be countermanded.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a strong body of opinion in this country which regards that action as precipitate and provocative?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo. As far as I can judge the indications of public opinion, the moderation and patience of His Majesty's Government have been recognised, and it is felt that they acted none too soon and none too strongly.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs it not a fact that by the Agreement of 1922 this country is pledged to protect Egypt against any aggression, and does the right hon. Gentleman think that agreement has to stand for all time?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes. I think that the interests of this country in Egypt make it impossible for us to contemplate the occupation of Egypt by any other Power than ourselves. It will always be necessary for this or any Government, in the future as it has been in the past, to maintain the principles of the Declaration of 1922, and as we forbid other Powers to interfere, we must also take the measures that are necessary to secure the safety of the citizens of those Powers as well as of our own nationals.
§ Mr. MAXTONFor the guidance of the House, will the right hon. Gentleman tell us to what Articles of the Assemblies Bill His Majesty's Government take exception?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINPerhaps the hon. Member will await the appearance of the White Paper which I indicated the other day, in answer to the Leader of the Opposition, I would lay as soon as possible. I hope it may be in the hands of Members at latest at the beginning of next week.