§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to communicate to the House, from the British Resident in Brunei, concerning the disturbances which have recently occurred within the Sultan of Brunei's territory; will he state what the 711 area and the present population of this sultanate is; and whether, seeing that Brunei is enveloped and enclosed on the landward side by the territory of H.H. the Rajah of Sarawak, would he state the number of the Malay natives who, during the last ten years, have fled from Brunei to settle in Sarawak; and whether and how often the flag of Sarawak has been hoisted by the natives in Brunei.
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo official information has been received as to any disturbances in Brunei, but the Resident will be asked for a report; no statistics are in existence, but the area of the sultanate is estimated at 4,000 square miles, and the population at about 30,000; it would be impossible to give accurate details as to the number of natives who have migrated from Brunei to Sarawak territory, but the Resident will be asked if he has any information; I am not aware that the Sarawak flag has over been hoisted in Brunei except by individuals who for personal reasons claimed the protection of that State.