§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)I beg to ask the Under Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that the British concession at Chinde is rapidly disappearing owing to erosion; and whether he will instruct the Commissioner to make early arrangements with the Portuguese representatives in Zambesia in order to protect British Trade.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI am aware that the British concession annually suffers 275 considerable loss from erosion, but at the rate at which that erosion is going on it is computed that it will be many years before the concession ceases to be available, and the Secretary of State is of opinion that under these circumstances the arrangements which might be necessary for the protection of British Trade in the event of the complete disappearance of the concession ought to receive very careful and deliberate consideration.