MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is aware that a Treaty between France and Spain was signed on 27th June 1900, and promulgated on 30th March 1901, whereby the African possessions of Spain in the territories of Adrar Temar were diminished, while those of France were correspondingly augmented; and whether he can say what consideration Spain has received for consenting to this alteration of frontiers.
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIES (LORD CRANBORNE, Rochester)The treaty in question is not confined to the Western Sahara, but defines also the boundaries between the Spanish and French possessions in the Gulf of Guinea. As regards the latter part of the Question, I beg to refer my hon. friend to the text of the Treaty.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs the noble Lord aware that the Treaty does not answer that part of the Question?
§ [No answer was returned.]