§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What is the western boundary of the Portuguese Colony of Mozambique in South-Eastern Africa; whether there is a Treaty with the Portuguese Government as to Transit Duty for goods passing through the Mozambique Colony 743 to the districts north and west of that Colony; and, whether, considering the increase of trade to these districts, it is desirable that negotiations should be entered into with the Portuguese Government for terms of transit to the districts beyond the Portuguese Colonies, and especially those on the Zambesi River and its branches?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)There has never been any delimitation of the western boundary of Mozambique. There is no Transit Treaty; and the Portuguese Government are so far from being disposed to negotiate one, that they have suspended their transit tariff, and refuse to give any facilities for a transit trade. As regards facilities of access, Her Majesty's Government are in communication with the Portuguese Government with a view to keeping open the freedom of navigation of the Zambesi River. The Portuguese Government have already made certain concessions; but these have not been accepted as satisfactory to Her Majesty's Government.
§ In reply to Mr. BUCHANAN (Edinburgh, W.),
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, the Zambesi was not included in the Congo Conference.