HC Deb 24 April 1899 vol 70 cc369-70
SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, S.E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the cause of the prolonged delay in arranging for the provision of lights in the southern part of the Red Sea, now dangerous to navigation?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)

Her Majesty's Government have submitted proposals to the other Maritime Powers that lightships or lighthouses should be established by the Egyptian Government. The Governments so addressed have accepted these proposals, with the exception of France and Russia. The French Government stated in February 1898 that they could not support the scheme, as they had already approached the Porte with a view to the construction of lighthouses. No result has been obtained hitherto from the French negotiations at Constantinople, which have now lasted for more than 12 months, but we have not yet succeeded in obtaining the consent of the French Government to our proposal that the lighthouses should be constructed by the Egyptian Government, with the consent of the Sultan.

SIR J. FERGUSSON

Will Her Majesty's Government press this matter forward?

[No reply.]

SIR. J. FERGUSSON

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason of the delay in erecting one or more lighthouses for the safety of navigation at the eastern end of the Gulf of Aden, in view of the terrible wreck of the "Aden" steamship in 1897, and of other casualties detailed in a Return made to this House in 1898?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croydon)

As I stated in my reply to the right honourable Baronet last year, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that it would not be advisable to approach other Governments on the subjects of lights in the Gulf of Aden until some settlement has been arrived at with respect to the Red Sea lights. I understand that negotiations as regards the Red Sea lights are still proceeding, though, so far, without any satisfactory result. It is hoped, however, that some progress may shortly be made.