§ MR. FAWCETTsaid, 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 EXCHEQUERsaid: 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 111 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.