HL Deb 07 November 1944 vol 133 c851
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS (VISCOUNT CRANBORNE) (Lord Cecil)

Your Lordships will have heard the tragic news of the death of Lord Moyne, His Majesty's Resident Minister in the Middle East, who was shot by terrorists outside his house in Cairo yesterday. The assassins were pursued and arrested, and are now in custody. His Majesty's Government have as yet received no official information as, to the authorship of this shocking crime, nor have we any clue as to its motive. The murderers themselves narrowly escaped lynching at the hands of Egyptian passersby, and the Egyptian Government have stated that they were not Egyptian subjects. Very searching inquiries will be made into the origins and associations of these strangers to Egypt, and the House will be given the fullest information as soon as it has been obtained.

I know how deep will be the grief of your Lordships at the severe loss which this House and the country have sustained. It will, I am sure, be your wish that tributes should be paid to Lord Moyne's memory, and I suggest that an appropriate time will present itself at the beginning of business to-morrow.

LORD ADDISON

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friends on these Benches I would say that we entirely agree.