§ MR. WILLIAM ALLEN (Stafford, Newcastle)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether all the territory from Porto Novo to Say is in the British sphere of influence; whether the whole district of Socoto is British; whether this was agreed as the result of negotiations between this country and France in 1890; whether the whole of this territory was marked British in the French maps published at the time; whether Nikki, Kiaima, and Bussa are in British territory; whether there are now any French troops at these places; and whether the Government will insist on their immediate withdrawal?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRSThe whole of these Questions relate to matters now under discussion with the French Government, about which, while negotiations are proceeding, it is undesirable that any statement should be made.