§ 44. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for War why Major E. J. Graham, R.E., was arrested in Egypt on 2nd April on a charge which was not carried further; why no summary of evidence was taken until 21st May and then only in connection with different charges of a minor character; and why he was not brought to trial until 8th July.
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Mr. BellenglerThe original holding charge was not carried any further as subsequent investigations revealed alleged offences of a more serious nature which required the collection of evidence from Cairo, Upper Egypt, Arabia, Sudan and Palestine before the summary of evidence could be taken. This involved hundreds of miles of travelling in countries where the facilities for travel are bad. I consider that the speed of the investigations was in fact highly commendable under such conditions. Owing to other commitments, particularly of the Judge Advocate General's staff, the trial could not be arranged before 8th July. The officer was released to open arrest two hours after he was originally placed in close arrest and the restrictions to which he was subject were reduced to a minimum.