§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any definite proposal has been 841 recently brought to the notice of the Colonial Office for duplicating telegraphic communication with Australia by means of a cable connecting with the African system, and calling at Mauritius; and whether Her Majesty's Government will view with favour such alternative communication as being of great commercial and strategic value?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethThe answer to the first portion of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. In reply to the latter portion, I may say that Her Majesty's Government would be glad to see such a line of telegraphic communication established.