§ 2.37 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 ask Her Majesty's Government, with reference to the Answer given to a Question in this House on 5th December regarding the plight of British subjects expelled from Egypt: (1) whether Her Majesty's Government can now make a further general statement; (2) more particularly, what is contemplated to secure compensation for all property and funds seized from 250 these unfortunate and completely innocent people; (3) whether moral responsibility for these losses does not admittedly rest with Her Majesty's Government; (4) whether, as these British subjects are the victims of Egyptian Government policy, it would not be reasonable, as a matter of practical urgency, to consider immediately whether the-e are no Egyptian funds in this country which might be used for their benefit.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)My Lords, I hope that my noble friend the Leader of the House will be in a position to make a full statement on this subject in the course of the next few days. Perhaps the noble Lord will be willing to await that statement.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his Answer and welcome the prospect of the statement which he has foreshadowed. Is he aware, however, that his Answer will cause some disappointment, not only to those people who are suffering in this expulsion from Egypt but also to the general public? That is my first supplementary question. My second one is this. I had hoped that the noble Earl would have given some reply on the point in ray original Question of moral responsibility. If he is not in a position to do so, I propose to press that point—perhaps I had better wait until he answers. Last of all, if we cannot gel something which satisfies these unfortunate people, I feel it would be probably the wish of the House that this matter should be put down in the form either of a Motion or of something of the kind in the near future in order to see how the House feels about it. So the first point is this question of disappointment. The second one I should like to press is the question of moral responsibility of Her Majesty's Government.
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl one further supplementary question—it is a simple one. By "in the course of the next few days" does he mean to-morrow, which is the last sitting day of this week, or one day next week? I think we are all anxious to have the statement as soon as possible.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, if I may answer the noble Earl, Lord Listowel, first, I cannot give a categorical assent as to whether the statement will in fact be made to-morrow. I have been informed only that the statement will be made, as I said in my original Answer to the Question, in the course of the next two or three days. I regret that I cannot say more. I will naturally bring the noble Earl's remark to the attention of the noble Marquess the Leader of the House. With regard to Lord Killearn's two supplementary questions, I cannot quite see why my original Answer should cause alarm and despondency among those unfortunate people—
§ LORD KILLEARNWith all respect, I did not use the word "despondency"; I said "disappointment".
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI apologise to the noble Lord; but that, I thought, was really the meaning behind it. However, I cannot quite see how my statement should cause disappointement. By "the next two or three days" I do in fact mean "the next two or three days," and as it will be a full statement, I can only hope that it will be of more satisfaction to these unfortunate people. With regard to moral responsibility, I can assure the noble Lord that the Government will naturally take his remarks into full consideration.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he appreciates the terrific implications involved, if Her Majesty's Government do not admit moral liability as affects the position of all British subjects throughout the world, especially those resident abroad?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI regret that I cannot anticipate in any way the statement which the noble Marquess the Leader of the House will be making.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYEMy Lords, we are not anticipating in any way the statement. The question applies to those expelled from Egypt and the Minister's reply applies to them, but will the Lord President of the Council consider including also in his statement those who have not been expelled from Egypt but who have hitherto been drawing pensions from the Egyptian authorities and 252 who are now left bereft? They are in a different class.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI will gladly bring the remarks of the noble Lord to the attention of my noble friend the Leader of the House.
§ LORD COLWYNMy Lords, I am Chairman of the Anglo-Egyptian Aid Society, and know a good deal about this matter. I have just come down from Scotland. They are very willing to help up there. I can give your Lordships the full true story. We have not enough money to support those people, of whom approximately 6,000 are Maltese. What I want to know, please, is: What are the Government going to do about it?—because we have not enough money. We have £170,000, and no more, of which sum the Government gave £100,000. I have raised £70,000 by appeal. What are the Government going to do?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDI regret that I must reiterate that I cannot anticipate the statement of my noble friend the Leader of the House. I will, however, bring the noble Lord's remarks to his attention.
§ LORD HANKEYMy Lords, arising out of the question of my noble friend Lord Balfour of Inchrye on pensions, may I ask whether, at the same time, the noble Earl will, in particular, consider widows' pensions? He may be aware that there are widows whose husbands worked for years and years in Egypt and for Egypt, whose pensions have suddenly ceased and who are now in great distress? Will he kindly consider their case also?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I greatly sympathise with the people concerned in the question of the noble Lord, Lord Hankey. I will certainly bring that point to the attention of the noble Marquess the Leader of the House.