§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is the case that Her Majesty's Government have made proposals to the Cape Government for a modification of the frontier of Walfisch Bay, now a British port in Damaraland; whether the Cape Government strongly object to such modification; whether the modification is still contemplated, with or without the acquiescence of the Cape Government; whether the proposals made by Her Majesty's Government involve the cession of water stations inland, of the utmost importance to the district and port; and whether he will place in the Tea Room a map of the present British territory of Walfisch Bay as it was originally delimited by Colonel Phillips, R.E., and the German Commissioner, together with the proposed alterations?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe question of the hon. Member is based on a misapprehension of the facts. The southern boundary of the Walfisch Bay territory has, unfortunately, not been accurately defined. Discussions have consequently arisen between the Authorities of the Cape and the German Authorities in Damaraland, as to whether it includes certain land which, as a water station, is of importance to the road from the coast to the interior. Her Majesty's Government have invariably supported the view of the Cape Government, and have never proposed a settlement in favour of Germany. An attempt to settle the difference by a Joint Commission failed, as Colonel Phillips, the British Commissioner, and his German colleague 931 could not agree. Provisions for referring the matter to arbitration are inserted in the Anglo-German Agreement. No such map as is indicated can be furnished, as no joint delimitation has ever been made. The views of the Commissioners were hopelessly divergent.