§ Mr. FALLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if a provisional agreement had been come to between Great Britain, Germany, and the Congo on the question of the eastern boundary of the Congo; if such agreement permanently seats the Congo State on one of the great lakes or sources of the Nile; and if it is proposed that such agreement shall under any circumstances become a valid and a binding instrument?
The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Congo State has always been seated on Lake Edward, one of the great lakes. It is intended that in the future, when the recent Agreement is confirmed, Great Britain and the Congo shall each have access to both Lake Albert and Lake Edward.
§ Mr. BELLOCHas any representation been made by the Belgian Government to our Government to prevent the running of gin by our merchants over that part of the Congo frontier?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.
§ Mr. FALLEDoes the hon. Gentleman affirm or suggest that the frontier of the Congo on the thirtieth degree ran through that lake and so placed the Congo State definitely on that lake?
§ Mr. FALLEThe hon. Gentleman has not answered my question as to whether the thirtieth degree was the boundary.