§ SIR C. DILKEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state the limits defined on Map 2 annexed to the Niger Convention on which Article IX. depends?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, S.W., SouthportThe map is at present in the hands of the cartographers, but I have placed a map in the Tea Room which shows the territorial limits of the fiscal areas as arranged by the Convention.
§ SIR C. DILKEMay I point out that the object of my Question was to bring out the very important matters dealt with in Article IX. of the Niger Convention? Can the right honourable Gentle- 954 man point out the limits on which the Article depends? It is impossible to gather from the map in the Library what those limits are.
§ MR. CURZONI cannot answer that at a moment's notice, and shall be obliged if the right honourable Gentleman will put his Question on the Paper. My impression was that the map in the Library accurately reproduced the map which accompanied the Convention.
§ SIR C. DILKEI will put the Question again.
§ MR. CURZONBecause we were anxious to have the Convention laid on the Table as quickly as possible.
§ MR. CURZONI do not think there is any precedent for laying the map alone.
§ MR. CURZONI have explained why it was not.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs the right honourable Gentleman not aware that the Convention is absolutely unintelligible without the map?
§ [No Reply.]