EGYPTIAN ASSEMBLIES BILL

Evening Star, Issue 19856, 3 May 1928, Page 5

EGYPTIAN ASSEMBLIES BILL

MUST BE ABANDONED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 2. (Received May 3, at 10 a.m.) Sir Austen Chamberlain, in _ the House of Commons, said that Britain had replied to the Egyptian Government’s Note, expressing satisfaction at the postponement of the Assemblies Bill, but repeating the warning that it must drop it altogether.—Australian Press Association-United Service. TEXT OF BRITISH REPLY. RUGBY, May 2. (Received May 3, at noon.) Sir Austen Chamberlain road in the House of Commons this afternoon the text of the reply which Lord Lloyd (British High Commissioner) had to-day been instructed to deliver to the Egyptian Prime Minister. The reply concluded: “His Majesty’s Government can enter into no discussion respecting the declaration of February, 1922, One of the consequences of that instrument was to entail upon His Majesty’s Government the responsibility for tho protection of foreign interests in Egyi>t. It will he clear from the preceding paragraph that His Majesty’s Government is resolved at all times to insist upon the precise discharge of its terms. This declaration embodies conditions subject to which independence was accorded to Egypt, and His Majesty’s Government will not permit it to be either modified or disregarded.” After bis statement, Sir Austen Chamberlain was questioned regarding the despatch of British warships to Egypt. He said that in consequence of what had passed, the Government thought it necessary to give directions for certain ships to sail for Egypt. He had now given instructions for these orders to be countermanded.