§ 43. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what grounds the Governor of the Sudan vetoed a discussion in the Legislature on deploring the recent executions and imprisonments in Egypt and the removal from power of General Neguib.
§ Mr. TurtonOn 7th December, a motion was submitted deploring the death sentences inflicted upon members of the Moslem Brotherhood in Egypt and requesting the Government to intervene forthwith for the reduction of the sentences. The Governor-General withheld his consent under Article 99 (5) (c) of the Self-Government Statute on the ground that the motion constituted an unjustifiable interference in the internal affairs of a foreign Government.
§ Mr. BrockwayWhilst foreign affairs are still in the sphere of the Governor-General and not in that of the Legislature, is it not desirable, from the point of view of the development of democracy in the Sudan, to allow its Legislature to discuss matters upon the widest possible scale?
§ Mr. Turton; The position is that the Governor-General is not a servant of Her Majesty's Government. He is a servant of the co-domini, and he must act strictly in accordance with the Self-Government Statute, under which he has definite powers to forbid certain debates. I think that that is as far as we cart take the matter today.
§ Mr. J. AmeryCan my hon. Friend say whether the Governor-General consulted Her Majesty's Government before reaching this decision?
§ Mr. TurtonThe Governor-General did not consult Her Majesty's Government, nor would it have been proper if he had done so.