§ MR. YOXALLTo ask the Secretary of State for India whether he has now obtained from the Turkish Government the amounts claimed by British-Indian subjects robbed by brigands on the highway between Jeddah and Mecca in the years 1889 to 1902; and whether His Majesty's Government will confer with the Netherlands Government as to the measures to be taken for the protection of the Mahommedan, Dutch, and British subjects who are this year preparing to visit the shrines at Mecca and Medina on their journey between Jeddah and those places.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) As stated in this House by my predecessor, in reply to a Question on the 18th of March last,† the claims of British-Indian pilgrims for losses by robbery in the Hedjaz, between 1892 and 1898, have been settled. His Majesty's Government have not, since that date, received any further information in regard to such claims. His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople will be requested to inquire into the matter, and to report whether, in his opinion, there is any necessity for the adoption of measures such as those suggested in the last paragraph of the Question.