§ Mr. QUIBELL (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make regarding the post of High Commissioner for Egypt and the Sudan.
Mr. A. HENDERSONYes, Sir. I have to inform the House that I had an interview with Lord Lloyd as High Commissioner yesterday, during which he handed me his resignation, which His Majesty's Government have accepted.
§ Colonel GRETTONMay I ask if the resignation of Lord Lloyd arose in any way from the policy intended to be taken by His Majesty's Government?
Mr. HENDERSONYes. First of all, I ought to say that the resignation was handed to me in a friendly exchange of letters, but, if I have to state the reasons, I must say that I had sent an intimation to Lord Lloyd before the latter left Egypt which was based upon my reading of the attitude that he had adopted towards the policy of the late Government.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAre we to understand from that answer that this resignation has been extorted—[Interruption.] I am asking for information—by the Government from Lord Lloyd, and that, if his resignation had not been forthcoming, dismissal would have followed?
Mr. HENDERSONThe telegram that I sent to Lord Lloyd was of such a character that I think most people would have accepted it as an invitation to terminate their position.
§ Mr. CHURCHILL rose—
§ Mr. JAMES HUDSONOn a point of Order. Is it in order for a right hon. 1302 Gentleman, when he has admitted that he does not know the facts, to use in a question the term "extorted"?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere is nothing un-parliamentary in the word "extort."
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMay I ask the Foreign Secretary whether he will lay papers or make a statement showing the grounds of difference which led the Government to force Lord Lloyd to resign, as he said he did? Will he lay papers or make a statement in time to enable this House to debate this question fully on the only opportunity open to us, which is on Friday next?
Mr. HENDERSONYes, Sir, I shall be quite prepared to meet any statement that may be made on Friday on the Adjournment Motion.
Mr. HENDERSONI am quite prepared to make a statement, which is what I was asked for, at the earliest possible moment, which is Friday.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWill the right hon. Gentleman also lay papers?
Mr. HENDERSONThe laying of papers, having regard to the fact that the papers are associated chiefly with the previous Government, is not a matter as to which an answer should be given without consideration. I may say that I have discussed the laying of papers with Lord Lloyd. He had no objection, but he agreed with the view that the laying of papers, especially if we went far enough back, might not be in the interest of the relationship between Egypt and this country.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThen are we to understand that the Foreign Secretary will open the proceedings on Friday by making us a full statement? [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"] Are we then to understand—[Interruption.]—I shall stand here for an hour—that the Foreign Secretary, if not at the opening, will at some early and convenient period of the Debate on Friday make us a full statement upon this important and grave issue?
Mr. HENDERSONI have already intimated to the House that if the Debate is opened by those who are anxious to get information I will meet them.
§ Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLErose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman has told the House that he is going to make a statement on Friday.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs it in order to move the Adjournment of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERFurther questions on this subject must be deferred until the Debate on Friday.
§ Commander BELLAIRSAre we not entitled to know whether we shall have the papers relative to the withdrawal of trust from Lord Lloyd by the Government.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question has already been answered.
§ Commander BELLAIRSThe Foreign Secretary said that we must frame our indictment, and then he will answer it. How can we do that unless we have the papers?
§ Mr. THURTLEMay I submit that the Foreign Secretary has been subjected to half-a-dozen questions from the other side of the House and no one hon. Member on this side of the House has been allowed to put a question on this matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not know about whom the hon. Member complains, whether it is myself or hon. Members on the other side of the House. I have already allowed a good many supplementary questions.
§ Mr. THURTLEMy complaint is that the interrogations on this matter have been very one-sided.
§ Sir H. CROFTDoes the Foreign Secretary's answer indicate that this grave decision is going to be taken, and this House will have no opportunity of dividing upon this question?
Mr. HENDERSONI have already-told the House that I will give it the opportunity, if it cares to take it, on the Motion for the Adjournment on Friday.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the unsatisfactory 1304 manner in which the Foreign Secretary has replied to questions upon an urgent public matter."
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat Motion does not fulfil any of the conditions laid down in the Standing Order No. 10.
§ Mr. DIXEYIs it not; a fact, Mr. Speaker, that on an important occasion like this, hon. Members have a right to have a definite statement from the Foreign Secretary, and, if that statement is not satisfactory, ought we not to have the privilege of moving the Adjournment of the House.?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must carry out the Standing Order.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEI beg to amend the Motion of which I have given notice in this respect: For the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "The resignation of Lord Lloyd."
§ Mr. SPEAKERAgain, the hon. Member's notice of Motion does not fulfil the conditions laid down by the Standing Order.