§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Secretary of State for India, with reference to an advertisement appearing in the newspapers, Whether he can now state the arrangements which have been made for a Railway through the Portuguese territory into Southern India; whether it is the fact that he has pledged himself to continue a short Railway in Portuguese territory to a connection with the British Indian system in the Deccan; and, if so, whether he has ascertained that the Port of Marmagao is superior to any British Indian 1819 Port on the West Coast; that the line thence up the Ghats is easier than any line from a British Port; and that, altogether, this line has such great advantages over any other line as to counterbalance the disadvantage of a Foreign Port and a transit through Foreign territory?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, the arrangements which have been made for a railway through the Portuguese territory into Southern India are briefly these. The Portuguese Government, in pursuance of the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon, 1878, have made a contract with an English company under which capital will be raised, with a guarantee from the Portuguese Government for the purpose of completing a harbour at Marmagao—commonly known as Goa—and of constructing a railway within their territory to the Frontier. The Government of India, when assured that sufficient progress has been made with the works, will, in conformity with the terms of the same Treaty, under which we have obtained very considerable advantages, take measures for continuing the line through British territory, and connecting it with the system of railways in Southern India. With regard to the comparative merits of this harbour, and any British port on the West Coast, the hon. Member does not, probably, include Bombay, which, of course, is pre-eminently superior to all; but, if he alludes particularly to the port of Karwar, some 50 miles south of Marmagao, I am able to inform him on high professional authority that the latter possesses as many, if not greater, advantages than the former. I am also informed that the line of railway may be constructed quite as easily up the Ghats from Marmagao as from Karwar. Under the arrangement which has been made, I do not apprehend that any hindrance to traffic or any inconvenience will occur in consequence of the communication between the interior and the coast being partially formed through Portuguese territory.