§ 2. Sir Wavell Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the urgent need for an announcement to be made about a scheme of demobilisation for Cypriots and Maltese who, in spite of the fact that neither in Malta nor in Cyprus conscription exists yet, were conscripted in Egypt; and will he make a statement.
§ The Minister of State (Mr. Richard Law)I have taken due note of the representations made by my hon. Friend. His Majesty's Government found it necessary, in the interests of the prosecution of the war, to conscript British subjects in Egypt for military service and there was, of course, no question of special exemption for Cypriots and Maltese residents in that country. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has already informed my hon. Friend, the question of the steps to be taken in connection with Cypriots and Maltese demobilised in Egypt is bound up with the future of the British community in Egypt after the war, which is under active consideration. The report of a Committee set up by His Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo on this complex subject is now being studied in consultation with the Departments concerned, and until final decisions have been taken by His Majesty's Government any public pronouncement would be premature.
§ Sir W. WakefieldDoes not my right hon. Friend think that these British subjects who have been conscripted in Egypt 1424 are entitled to immediate information about their future demobilisation plans exactly in the same way as soldiers from this country?
§ Mr. LawI think it would be a mistake to anticipate the consideration of the Ambassador's report, which I mentioned in my reply, and I hope that my hon. Friend will be content to await that report.