MR. HERBERT ROBERTSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn 1311 to the fact that the Portuguese Government, interested by treaty through the West Portuguese Railway, has remonstrated against certain private agreements between the Great Indian Peninsular and the Southern Mahratta Railways, whereby traffic has been, and continues to be, diverted from the West Portuguese Railway to the detriment of trade in large districts of South-Western British India; and what action does the Government of India propose to take in the matter?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAYes, Sir, I am aware of the fact, and have for some time past been endeavouring to effect an agreement on the matters in dispute.