§ DR. TANNERI bog to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, (1) if it is true that there has been a breakdown of negotiations on the Niger delimitation question, that an English Commissioner has been withdrawn; and, (2) whether serious objections have been offered to drawing a hard-and-fast line on the Niger as the frontier beyond which the negotiations should not extend?
MR. CURZONThere has been no breakdown of the Niger negotiations, nor has a British Commissioner been withdrawn. Sir A. Hemming, who is about to proceed to his post as Governor of British Guiana, has been replaced by Colonel Everett. I do not quite understand the second paragraph of the hon. Member's question, but Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any such objections having been raised.
§ DR. TANNERI would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the French Press of late has been directing attention to this matter; also I would ask him whether the line is to be to the west of the Niger, or will a hard-and-fast line be drawn on the river itself?
MR. CURZONI have to say in reply to the first part of the hon. Member's Question, that I have not been studying the French Press; and, as regards the second part, it would obviously be undesirable for me to express any opinion while the negotiations are proceeding.