§ 9. Mr. CHURCHILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the statement recently made by His Majesty King Fuad of Egypt implying that negotiations for a treaty between Great Britain and Egypt would be renewed at an early date; and whether he will give the House an assurance that no agreement will be entered into which would entail the 1087 evacuation of Cairo by British troops until Parliament has an opportunity of debating the question?
§ Mr. EDENI have seen reports of this in the Press but the official text of the speech has not yet been received. My right hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that, so long as our policy towards Egypt is based on the Declaration of 1922, the Egyptian Government are entitled to anticipate a resumption of negotiations. I have not seen any version of the speech which does not recognise that the consent of both parties is required before negotiations can be begun. No agreement with Egypt will be ratified until it has been submitted to Parliament.