§ 22. Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ascertain how many lawyers are attached to, or are members of, the Egyptian Delegation at present taking part in the preliminary Anglo-Egyptian conversations, and their names?
§ Mr. EDENMy information is that there are no legal experts attached to the Egyptian Delegation, though some of the members of the Delegation are lawyers or have had legal training.
§ 23. Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the declared attitude of His Majesty's Government towards Ahmed Bey Maher and Nekrashi Bey, he will draw the attention of the Egyptian Government to the undesirability of these persons taking part in the Anglo-Egyptian conversations?
§ Mr. EDENNekrashi Bey was a member of the Egyptian Delegation that negotiated with His Majesty's Government in 1930, while Dr. Ahmed Maher accompanied the Delegation as a technical expert. In view of these facts the action proposed by my hon. Friend is inappropriate.
§ Mr. DONNERIs my right hon. Friend aware that the presiding Judge, the late 2400 Judge Kershaw, resigned after the verdict, stating that a gross miscarriage of justice had taken place; and that he was endorsed in this attitude by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom?
§ 25. Mr. CARTLANDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that when the Anglo-Egyptian preliminary conversations are completed, before formal treaty negotiations are opened a full statement will be made to the House and an opportunity afforded for debate?
§ Mr. EDENI will certainly bear in mind my hon. Friend's request for a statement when a suitable occasion presents itself.
§ Mr. CARTLANDMay we take it then that the House will not be committed by these preliminary conversations, but will have an opportunity to express their feelings and opinions on the matter before the negotiations begin?
§ 27. Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state, approximately, at what date the formal Anglo-Egyptian Treaty negotiations are likely to be opened; and whether he can give an assurance that the legal expert to advise the British delegation will arrive in Cairo before that time?
§ Mr. EDENThe answer to the first part of the question is, No, Sir. As regards the second part, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on Wednesday last.