§ 23. Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he can state the reasons which have caused the Government to decide on the reoccupation of Burao, in Somaliland, and the reversal of the policy announced to the House by the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies and the First Lord of the Admiralty in March and April, 1910?
Mr. HARCOURTI have already stated the reasons in the Debate which took place in this House on the 24th of February, and I do not think that I can usefully add anything to what I said on that occasion.
§ Mr. DILLONCan the right hon. Gentleman see his way to lay further Papers on Somaliland before the Debate takes place on the Colonial Office Vote?
§ 26. Mr. FELLasked the Secretary for the Colonies what steps are being taken to do away with the unsatisfactory position which prevails at Berbera and in British Somaliland; if he is aware that our friendly native tribes are being harried by the Mad Mullah incessantly and our troops penned in at Berbera: and that the whole position is detrimental to the prestige and position of this country in the whole of East Africa?
Mr. HARCOURTI would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in the course of the Debate on Somaliland on the 24th of February.
§ Mr. FELLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he intends to do nothing but wait for the death of the Mad Mullah?
Mr. HARCOURTI think, if the hon. Member will refer to the Debate, he will find that we are taking immediate action.