§ 13. Mr. GALLACHERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps, if any, have been taken by His Majesty's Government arising out of the large concentration of Italian forces in Libya; whether the Egyptian Government is making any increases in the strength of the Egyptian army and under what treaty or other enactment it is authorised to place these forces under British officers; and whether any works of fortification and road construction have been carried out by the Egyptian authorities on the western frontier of Egypt at the suggestion of the British High Commissioner?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt would not be in the public interest to answer the first and last parts of this question. As regards the second part, I have no information that the Egyptian Government is making any increase in the strength of the Egyptian Army. Since 1924 no portion of the Egyptian Army has been under the executive command of any British officer. The question, therefore, of treaties and enactments governing this subject does not arise.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs it not the case that a very great measure of control is maintained by the British Government over the affairs of Egypt, and have they no intention of allowing the Egyptian Government to be recognised by the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think that that point hardly arises out of these questions on the Army.