§ 56 and 57. Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what reparation has been demanded of, and furnished by, the Egyptian Government for damage inflicted on British persons and property in the Suez Canal Zonein the 275 attacks recorded in the past 13 months;
(2) what reparation has been demanded of, and furnished by, the Egyptian Government for the 14 deaths of British subjects due to attacks in the Suez Canal Zone in the past 13 months.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydWe have protested strongly to the Egyptian Government, as I said on 25th January, but the question of reparation is bound up with the much wider question of claims and counterclaims, which has not yet been discussed with the Egyptians. In the present state of Anglo-Egyptian relations no useful purpose would be served by such a discussion.
§ Mr. MaitlandDoes my right hon. and learned Friend not agree that the gentleness of our protests smacks of the discreditable and discredited policy of appeasement?
Mr. I. O. ThomasDoes the Minister not agree that these attacks on British nationals are connived at by the Egyptian authorities with whom he is entering into friendly negotiations by the sale of war material which may be used against British nationals in Egypt?
§ Mr. LloydNo. The sale of war material to Egypt has been suspended for a long time. I have repeatedly said that we take the strongest possible objection to these attacks on British personnel, and truly friendly relations between this country and Egypt are quite impossible while this kind of deplorable incident continues.