MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the proposal to give to the Congo Free State a part of the Bahr-el-Ghazal as compensation for the transfer to this country of the Lado enclave, and of the fact that the Bahr-el-Ghazal abounds in coal and iron and that its inhabitants are a comparatively civilised and industrial people and are expert workers in iron, he will state whether any, and, if so, what steps will be taken to ascertain their views before carrying out the proposal; whether he can lay Papers upon the Table showing the area and boundaries, the names of the tribes inhabiting the part proposed to be transferred and its estimated population; and whether this House will be given an opportunity of discussing the question before any decision is come to.
(Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The proposal to which the hon. Member refers is still under consideration, and I am not at present in a position to give information on the points raised in his Question.