HL Deb 01 May 1906 vol 156 cc375-7
LORD MONKSWELL

My Lords, in the absence of my noble friend Lord Reay I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Turkish troops have removed the boundary pillars between Egyptian and Turkish territory near El Arisch, and if he can make any statement in regard to the boundary dispute between the Egyptian and Turkish Governments near Akabah and the increase of the garrison in in Egypt.

* LORD FITZMAURICE

My Lords, in reply to my noble friend I have, in the first place, to state that in 1904 the strength of the Egyptian garrison was reduced. Lord Cromer is now of opinion that, in view of the unrest which exists in Egypt and which is in some measure due to the action of the Porte in connection with the frontier, it is desirable to reinforce the garrison. I am informed by my noble friend who represents the War Office in this House that what has been arranged is this—;one battalion goes to Egypt from Malta, three companies go from Crete, and one cavalry regiment and one Horse Artillery battery go from home. A battalion at Malta is also held ready to go if wanted. After the statement had appeared in the Press that Turkish troops had removed the boundary pillars set up by Ishmail Pasha about three miles from the sea shore at El Rafeh and thirty miles to the northeast of El Arisch on the Mediterranean coast, which is part of Egypt, H.M. ship "Minerva" was ordered to proceed to El Arisch to ascertain what had happened and to bring back a report, but that report has not yet been received. Our Ambassador at Constantinople, however, has now been informed by the Grand Vizier that a Commission will be despatched to make inquiries, and, if the pillar is found to been have disturbed, to repair and replace it. Tabah, which is five miles by sea and about nine miles by land from Akabah, following the coast line, and one or two other posts in the Sinai Peninsula, have also been recently occupied by Turkish troops. It is considered that these posts are within the territory which is within the limits of Egyptian administration. The Turkish title to Akabah itself has never been in dispute. I wish rather to insist on that point, because incorrect statements in regard to that matter have been made. The Sinai Peninsula itself has remained in the effective and undisputed possession of the Khedive, though not forming a portion of Egypt proper, from a date many years previous to the accession of Ishmail Pasha. The demands put forward by the Turkish Government have, however, extended far beyond Tabah and its neighbourhood, and have now rendered it necessary that there should be a joint delimitation of the whole frontier on that side, and that, pending a general settlement, the Turkish forces should retire from Tabah. This is what His Majesty's Government have asked from the beginning, but what the Porte has hitherto declined. The Porte is now again being urged to agree to it. As the negotiations are continuing, it would not be desirable at present that I should go beyond the statement which I have just made. I may, however, just add this further observation on the point which I mentioned at the commencement of my statement, that El Rafeh is considered to be within Egypt proper, while, as I have explained, the Sinai Peninsula, though not in Egypt proper, has remained under undisputed Egyptian administration.

House adjourned at a quarter before Five o'clock, to Thursday next, half-past Ten o'clock.