HC Deb 29 November 1948 vol 458 cc1612-3
20. Mr. John Foster

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Egyptian Government has been temporarily depriving certain British passengers of their passports during their passage through the Suez Canal on the grounds that these passengers were Jewish; and what protest His Majesty's Government has made to the Egyptian Government against this practice.

Mr. Mayhew

I am not aware of any such cases. If the hon. Member will let me have further information, I will make inquiries.

Mr. Foster

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that these cases have been reported in the "Jewish Chronicle" and can be ascertained by inquiries of the steamship company, and may I say also that I understand passengers who arrive by air are put aside as being Jews if they stay overnight?

Mr. Mayhew

Perhaps the hon. Member will put me in touch with those passengers.

Mr. Janner

Could my hon. Friend refer also to a communication which he has received from me on a similar matter and try to remedy that position at the same time?

Mr. Mayhew

I am aware of a similar matter, but it is not the matter which is now under discussion.