HC Deb 19 February 1895 vol 30 cc1094-5
MR. YERBURGH (Chester)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that an agreement has been signed between the German Colonial Office, the German East Africa Company, and a syndicate of banking firms, for the commencement of a railway from the German East African Coast to Central Africa, the Victoria Nyanza, and Lake Tanganyika; and, whether in view of Sir Gerald Portal's statement in his Report on Uganda, that there exists in that country a demand for such articles as cotton cloths of best qualities, and that if the present system of transport is continued the demand will be supplied from German sources, and by the German route, the Government will, in the interests of British trade, undertake the construction of the railway as recommended by Sir Gerald Portal?

SIR E. GREY

The construction of a railway from Tanga by a German firm has been begun, but we are not aware of any agreement such as that referred to.

MR. YERBURGH

asked whether, in view of the great depression existing at the present time, the Government would reconsider their determination with a view to opening up a fresh market for British trade?

SIR E. GREY

said he could not promise to reconsider the answer which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave yesterday.