§ 15. Mr. CARTLANDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have recently received a report from the High Commissioner in Egypt as to the progress of the Anglo-Egyptian conversations; and whether it has yet been decided when a legal adviser will be added to the British delegation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies) on 21st April. Since that date, a further meeting of the Heads of Delegations took place on 15th May, after which a communiqué was issued announcing an adjournment until 365 13th May, owing to Nahas Pasha's numerous other preoccupations. The High Commissioner has therefore had nothing further to report since 20th April. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. CARTLANDHas His Majesty's Government been in consultation with the High Commissioner with regard to sending out a legal adviser?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say whether they have lately, but it has always been announced and understood in this House that a legal adviser would go out when his services were required. They are not required yet because the discussions are preliminary. It is when it comes to the question of drafting that his services will be needed.
§ 18. Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the intentions of His Majesty's Government are confined to the conclusion of an agreement or treaty of friendship with Egypt, or whether they extend also to the conclusion of a military alliance with the government of that country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe present conversations with the Egyptian delegation have in view the conclusion of a treaty of friendship which would include a military alliance.
§ 19. Mr. EMMOTTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Dr. Ahmed Maher, recently appointed Comptroller-General in Egypt, is the same person as Dr. Ahmed Maher who is a member of the Egyptian delegation at present conducting negotiations with the representatives of His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have seen Press reports that Dr. Ahmed Mahher, a member of the Egyptian delegation which is now conducting conversations with the representatives of His Majesty's Government, was to receive a post at the hands of the Egyptian Government, but His Majesty's Government have no official information that he has been appointed to any particular post.
§ Mr. LENNOX-BOYDSeeing that one of the reasons for the failure of the British Government to object to this man's inclusion on the delegation originally was that he occupied only a minor position in the Government, if he is elevated to an important post, will my right hon. Friend reconsider that attitude as to the propriety of negotiating with this man?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf we desired to reconsider it, I cannot imagine anything that would make reconsideration more impossible than a question like that in this House.