HC Deb 10 March 1948 vol 448 c1208
11. Professor Savory

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian Government have now accepted the proposal of His Majesty's Government that the Anglo-Egyptian Committee should examine and suggest amendments to the Sudan Government Draft Reform Law; and whether he will now make a statement on the subject.

Mr. Bevin

I regret to say that the Egyptian Government's reply, which the Egyptian Ambassador communicated to me on 1st March, was to the effect that they could not accept the draft ordinance to provide for the creation of an executive council and legislative assembly in the Sudan as a basis for Anglo-Egyptian discussion, for the reason that it did not embody all the proposals put forward by the Egyptian Government in November last. I should prefer not to make a further statement on the subject at the present juncture, as the draft ordinance is still under detailed consideration by His Majesty's Government.

Professor Savory

But in the meantime would it not be possible to bring home to the Egyptian people, even if not to the Egyptian Government, that the sole object of the British Government is to bring to the Sudan self-government and autonomy, and that we are absolutely disinterested?

Mr. Bevin

I have made that statement many times. There is no dubiety about it.