§ GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOURasked the Under Secretary of State for India, with reference to the proposed arrangement under which India is to pay half the cost of additional fortifications at Aden, Whether, considering that besides the whole British trade with the far East that of all the Australian Colonies is served by the maintenance of that outpost, these Colonies will be invited to make some substantial contribution in mitigation of the proportion proposed to be placed on the Indian Revenues?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSI have no reason to believe that the Government of India is dissatisfied with the proportion of the cost of the additional fortifications at Aden, which it will have to bear; and I think that my hon. and gallant Friend will see that any question of inviting the Colonies to contribute belongs to the Colonial Department.