§ 3.3 p.m.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To inquire whether Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that, with his now restricted authority, the Governor-General of the Sudan still retains sufficient powers in the interim period to safeguard the Sudanese people against any overt or covert attempt to impair their genuine independence.]
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONMy right honourable friend is satisfied that the powers retained by the Governor-General are adequate for the purposes which the noble Lord has in mind.
§ LORD KILLEARNIn thanking the noble Viscount for that statement of satisfaction, which I am sure many people will receive with relief—it will, of course, be noted in the columns of Hansard—may I ask him whether his attention has been called to the report in to-day's Times in a telegram from Cairo, dated March 10, of a rather startling character. The first point is to the effect that the Agreement "is already in a fragile condition." That is the view of the Times correspondent. A little later on in the same message there comes what is apparently an expression of opinion by Neguib, that certain action—rather complicated according to the report—alleged to have been taken by us, shows lack of good will on the part of the British.
§ VISCOUNT SWINTONI haw noticed that report. I understand that my noble friend the Minister of State hopes to be in a position to make a statement, in answer to a private notice Question in another place, in about half an hour's time. It will probably be of sufficient interest to the House that I should get a copy of that statement, if the Minister is able to make it this afternoon, and make a similar statement here.
§ LORD KILLEARNI shall be very grateful.