§ SIR EDWARD WATKIN (Hythe)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Island of Mauritius, which was a Naval Dockyard, and the fortified harbour of St. Louis, is, like Bermuda, unconnected by submarine telegraphic cable, independent of foreign interference, with any other portion of the Empire; whether the Malagasy Government, so long as three months ago, expressed their readiness to assist in establishing direct communication through their territory with Great Britain by means of a cable from Mozambique, to be landed at Mojunga, and by the erection of a land line thence to the capital, and onwards to the East Coast at Andevoranto, or Vatomandry, with the right to connect the same by cable to Mauritius; and, whether he has come to any decision in the matter?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)(who replied) said: There is no direct telegraphic communication with Mauritius; but messages are sent as opportunity offers by steam vessels from Aden, Natal, and Australia. The particular proposal referred to has not come under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government; but various schemes for laying a cable to Mauritius, viâ Madagascar, have been, and still are, under consideration. It has not, however, been found possible to make provisions for this service; and until arrangements can be made for meeting the cost of a cable, it is not possible to come to a decision as to the particular route.