§ Mr. GOULDINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that the services of Mr. John Seldom Willmore, a judge of the Native Court of Appeal in Egypt, have been recently dispensed with; whether he has entered his protest against such action; whether he can state the grounds on which his services have been dispensed with; whether any charges have been made against him; whether any opportunity has been given Mr. Willmore of meeting such charges; and whether, under the organic law of the country, such judges are irremovable in this manner?
§ Sir E. GREYMr. Willmore was appointed a judge of the Native Court of Appeal on November 21st, 1889, by Khedivial Decree, under the Organic Law of 1883, Article 49 of which provides that such judges shall be appointed"à titre d' inamovibilité." Two days later the Minister of Justice informed him of his appointment, and stated in his letter that, in accordance with an agreement previously arrived at between Mr. Willmore and himself, the former was appointed for five years with the advantage of irremovability during that period, and on the further beneficial condition not provided for in the Organic Law that an indemnity equal to one-fifth of his total salary during the five years—[i.e.], one year's salary—would be paid to him on the expiry of this period, in lieu of any claim to pension. The arrangement has since been carried out, and Mr. Willmore's contract was renewed every five years—i.e., 609W in 1894, 1899, and 1904, and Mr. Willmore has received, or will receive, a sum of nearly £4,000 under it. The last term of five years expired on November 20th, and the Egyptian Government decline to renew it. Mr. Willmore has entered his protest against this action. The termination of Mr. Willmore's engagement on the conditions which he accepted implies no sort of censure on that gentleman, and the Egyptian Government have made no charge whatever against him.