§ * MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received from the Governor of the island of St. Helena any representations either in favour of, or in objection to, the proposed withdrawal of British troops from that island.
§ * MR. CHURCHILLNo; except that the Governor has telegraphed that grave concern is being caused throughout the colony by repeated newspaper statements that all the troops are to be withdrawn.
§ * MR. HICKS BEACHWill the substance of the telegram be communicated to the War Office?
§ * MR. CHURCHILLI am not aware whether the Secretary for War has been communicated with; but, of course, the whole question has been carefully considered both by the War Office and the Colonial Office, and also by the Committee of National Defence.
§ * MR. HICKS BEACHBut the Secretary of State for War has just informed me that all the troops are to be withdrawn, and under the circumstances, ought not this expression of opinion to be put before him?
§ * MR. CHURCHILLI believe the anxiety is caused by the rumours that the troops are to be immediately withdrawn, which would dislocate the actual economic position in the colony. But, as a fact, some interval will elapse, during which other arrangements can be made both for the purposes of defence and in the interest of the islanders.