HC Deb 08 May 1922 vol 153 cc1832-3W
Mr. SWAN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the speeches of His Royal Highness Prince Youssef Kamal and Morcos Hanna Bey, the leader of the Egyptian bar, which they were to deliver at the meeting which was convened by the Wafd under the presidency of Prince Youssef Kamal for 24th March last, which was prohibited at the last moment on the ground of preserving public order, were printed in pamphlet form; that 20,000 copies of these pamphlets were seized by the police at the printing office, and the printing office was closed afterwards by their order; whether the nature of these speeches was inflammatory; if so, why a trial of these two gentlemen was not ordered; and will he cause an inquiry into the incident to be held?

Earl WINTERTON

I understand that the facts are as stated in the first part of the question, and that copies of the pamphlet alluded to were seized by the Egyptian police. I have not, however, seen a copy and am not in a position to express an opinion upon its contents. As regards the last two parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on this subject on 12th April, and remind him that the responsibility for dealing with such incidents as these rests with the Egyptian Government.

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