§ Mr. HENNIKER HEATONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the wife of Salib Claudius Bey, Inspector-General of the Egyptian Post Office at Alexandria, herself the daughter of an English clergyman, was murdered on 5th January, 1909, on board the steamship "Portugal," one of the vessels of the Messageries Maritimes Company; will he say whether any inquest was held; if so, by whom; whether jewellery and other personal effects, to the value of £300, were stolen; whether a judicial inquiry has since been held; if so, with what result; and whether he has made, or proposed to make, representations to the French Government in this matter?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A preliminary inquiry was held on board the vessel by the French Consul-General at Alexandria, who subsequently called in the aid of the Egyptian police authorities. The matter is now in charge of the French judicial authorities at Marseilles, who have not yet concluded their inquiries. I have no information as to the loss of jewellery or other personal effects. There is not on the facts as at present known any ground for representations on the subject to the French Government, whose authorities are dealing with the matter.