§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the First Lord of the Treasury, With reference to the Green Book issued by the Italian Government on the 12th instant, from which it appears that, on the 16th September last, the British Embassy in Rome communicated a Despatch from Lord Granville proposing a Convention, to be negotiated under the auspices of England, of which the first Clause contained the formal recognition 1611 by Egypt and Turkey of Italy's Sovereignty over Assab Bay, and to the Bill introduced in the Italian Parliament on the same day by Signor Mancini, declaring Assab to be an Italian Colony, making it a free port, and giving the Italian Government the right of making concessions of land and concluding treaties with the neighbouring rulers; and, whether Her Majesty's Government regards Assab Bay as now belonging to Italy or to Egypt?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, the Papers about to be laid on the Table will show the view taken by Her Majsety's Government of this question. We have endeavoured to promote an agreement which would be advantageous to all parties; but it has not yet been accepted by the Egyptian Government.
§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the hon. Baronet to answer the last part of the Question. Did Assab Bay belong to Italy or Egypt?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe Italian flag was hoisted in Assab Bay, as I have already frequently stated, in the month of January, 1880, by an Italian frigate and an Italian corvette. There has been no transfer of Sovereignty at Assab Bay, and the view Her Majesty's Government take of the present condition of affairs can only really be judged by reading the Papers.