§ MR. M'COANasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true, as reported in the newspapers, that the British authorities at Aden have annexed Berbera, on the opposite coast; whether Berbera has for 1418 many years been an Egyptian possession, with an expensive system of water supply from the interior, constructed by the Egyptian Government; and, whether the alleged annexation has been made with the approval of the Egyptian Government or of the Porte?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; no annexation has taken place. Berbera has been for some time occupied by Egypt; but the Sultan's sovereignty over that part of the coast has never been formally recognized by this country. The food supplies for Aden being drawn mainly from Berbera, it became necessary, when the Egyptian troops were about to be withdrawn from the Province of Harrax, as is now intended by the Khedive's Government, that measures should be taken to prevent the supply being interfered with; and the Acting Resident at Aden was directed to enter into arrangements with the local Chiefs to secure that supply, and to guarantee them, in return, against interference from without.