§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true that Her Majesty's Government have recommended the Egyptian Government to enter into a Convention with the Governments of Great Britain and Italy for the cession to Italy of a portion of territory in the Bay of Assab, on the West Coast 981 of the Red Sea; whether this action is at variance with the policy hitherto followed by Her Majesty's Government as regards the claims of Foreign Governments to obtain territorial settlements on the Egyptian Coast of the Red Sea; and, if so, what are the reasons which have led to this change of policy; whether the Government of the Khedive have remonstrated against the pressure sought to be put upon them in this matter, and have refused to sign the Convention; what is the present state of the negotiations; and, whether there is any objection to communicate to Parliament the text of the proposed Convention, and the Correspondence that has taken place in respect thereto?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEHer Majesty's Government have recommended the Turkish and Egyptian Governments to enter into a Convention with Italy, defining and limiting the rights of the latter country in respect to the territories at Assab, acquired and occupied by the Rubattino Company in the first instance, and subsequently by the Italian Government. They considered that it was for the interest of Egypt that such a Convention should be concluded in order to avoid the complications that might arise if the Italian occupation of Assab were maintained on an unrecognized and undefined footing, and with a view of obtaining the recognition by Italy of the Sovereignty of the Sultan, and authority of the Khedive, over the West Coast of the Red Sea. The proposed Convention stipulated that the establishment at Assab should have a purely commercial character, and contain provisions for the prohibition of the traffic in arms and of the Slave Trade. The Egyptian Government has refused the Convention; but correspondence on the subject is still going on, and the Papers could not be laid on the Table without the consent of the other Governments concerned. With regard to the hon. Member's suggestion that the action taken in this matter is at variance with the policy hitherto followed by Her Majesty's Government, as regards the claim of Foreign Governments to obtain territorial settlements on the Egyptian Coast of the Red Sea, I must point out that Her Majesty's Government had to deal with accomplished facts, and with a territorial settlement already obtained, and that they took the course which, under the circumstances, 982 seemed best calculated to protect the interests of this country and of Egypt.
§ MR. BOURKEPerhaps the hon. Gentleman can inform the House with whom the negotiations were first carried on between the Company and the territorial authority in Africa—whether it was the Native Tribes, or the Egyptian Government, or the Sultan?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe Company appear to have obtained concessions from various local Sultans, and they actually occupied their settlements at Assab Bay a considerable time ago. I think that while the right hon. Gentleman was in Office the Italian flag was flying there.
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSsaid, that in consequence of the answer of the hon. Baronet he should deem it his duty to bring the subject under the notice of the House and to move a Resolution.