§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether the Government have received General Manning's Report, and whether they intend to go on with the military expedition in the interior of Somaliland; whether they have applied to the Italian Government for military co-operation; and, if so, with what result; will he lay 1089 upon the Table the text of any treaties or formal engagements made by the Government with the Ishak or other tribes of the interior of the Somaliland Protectorate obliging the Government to continue to them military protection; and can he state what is the position of the Abyssinian force co-operating with the British expedition.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)As regards the first and last part of the Question concerning the present condition of the operations in Somaliland, His Majesty's Government, as I stated yesterday,† have given orders to concentrate the British force at Bohotle, and pending the receipt of further information from General Manning I cannot make any further statement on the subject. As regards co-operation with the Italian Government the hon. Member will find the information he requires in Paper, Africa No. 1. 1903 (Cd. 1394) presented in January, and as regards treaties or engagements with the Ishak and other tribes, in State Papers Vol. 76, pages 101 to 107, and Vol. 77, pages 1263 to 1267.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman answer that portion of my Question relating to the position of the Abyssinian force. I wish also to ask whether there have been any negotiations with the Italian Government in respect of Somaliland since those mentioned in the Papers to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred me.
§ MR. BRODRICKWith regard to the Abyssinian force, as I stated yesterday, our information is that it is operating from the south and is driving the Mullah's forces to the north. That coincides with the determination of the Government to concentrate their forces at Bohotle, where they will be available for the protection of British territory.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say whether there have been any negotiations in respect of Somaliland between the Government and the Italian Government since those mentioned in the Papers of last January.
† See page 922.
§ MR. BRODRICKHis Majesty's Government are in continual communication with the Italian Government. Their communications throughout have been of the friendliest character, an I the Italian Government have given such co-operation as they have been able to give throughout.