HC Deb 21 June 1898 vol 59 cc953-4
SIR C. DILKE

I 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., Southport

The 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. DILKE

May 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- 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. CURZON

I 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. DILKE

I will put the Question again.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Why was not the map presented at the same time as the Convention?

MR. CURZON

Because we were anxious to have the Convention laid on the Table as quickly as possible.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Will the map be now laid?

MR. CURZON

I do not think there is any precedent for laying the map alone.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

But surely it should have been laid with the Convention?

MR. CURZON

I have explained why it was not.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Is the right honourable Gentleman not aware that the Convention is absolutely unintelligible without the map?

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