§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Christian missions in the southern portion of the Soudan are being, actively promoted by the Government there, notwithstanding that the population of the northern portion of that province is declared by Lord Cromer to be almost entirely Moslem, and that Christian propaganda is there expressly forbidden, excepting in Khartoum; 267 whether, in view of the danger of this artificial division of the Soudan into two contrasted portions, and in order to obviate the risks of sanguinary conflict amongst a people just emerging from barbarism, he will direct that the official promotion of Christian missions in the Southern Soudan shall cease.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have no information beyond that contained in Chapters 6, 43, and 56 of Lord Cromer's Annual Report for 1906, and in previous Reports which have been published. And I am not aware of any circumstances which require such intervention as the hon. Member suggests.
§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONThe right hon. Gentleman has not directly answered the last paragraph of my Question.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYreplied that the Government of the Soudan were perfectly aware of the danger which was referred to in Lord Cromer's Report and there was therefore no reason for further inquiry.