HC Deb 18 February 1869 vol 194 cc110-1
MR. FAWCETT

said, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is true that India advanced £6,589,100 towards the expenses of the Abyssinian War; whether of this amount £3,089,100 is still due by England to India; whether it is true that India had to borrow a portion of the amount thus advanced from the Bank of Bengal; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government intend that England or India should pay the interest due upon this loan?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said: On the 17th of December last the Government of India telegraphed to us that they had expended for the purposes of the Abyssinian Expedition, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, the sum of £7,000,000. Since that time I have had no official communication whatever from the Government of India, and am, therefore, unable to say what have been the financial proceedings of the Government of India, or to answer that portion of the hon. Gentleman's Question which relates to the Bank of Bengal. The sum already paid to India on account of the expedition was £4,000,000.