HC Deb 27 January 1930 vol 234 cc594-5
27. Mr. WARDLAW-MILNE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the inclusion in the new Egyptian Government of two men who were concerned in a political murder trial some years ago, he proposes to review the representations made by the British Foreign Office to the Egyptian Government with regard to their inclusion in a previous Government?

Mr. A. HENDERSON

No, Sir. So far as I am aware, one member of the present Egyptian Cabinet was concerned in a political murder trial, and he was duly acquitted.

Mr. WARDLAW-MILNE

Is it not the ease that the right hon. Gentleman, in 1924, made representations regarding two men who are now members of the Egyptian Government?

Mr. HENDERSON

I do not think it arises out of this question.

Mr. WARDLAW-MILNE

Is it not perfectly clear that the people to whom I am now referring are the same people mentioned in the question?

Mr. THURTLE

Is it not a fact that a subsequent inquiry completely exonerated these two Egyptians?

Earl WINTERTON

Is it not the case that what the right hon. Gentleman calls a political murder trial arose out of the foul murder of Sir Lee Stack four years ago? Why does he describe the murder of a distinguished Englishman as a political murder?

Mr. HENDERSON

I think everybody did. I think I could probably find that the late Government regarded it as a political murder.

Earl WINTERTON

Why does the right hon. Gentleman describe the murder of Sir Lee Stack as a political murder?

Mr. HENDERSON

I am answering a question which itself refers to it as a political murder.