§ 51. Mr. HUDSONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to Italian activities on the Gash river which might result in depriving Kassala of water required for irrigation purposes; and whether he has any statement to make?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThough the official reply of the Italian Government has not yet been received, I have been assured that the Italian Government accept in principle the British suggestion that the control and utilisation of the river should form the subject of an agreement. I am informed that the Italian Government have in mind that the Governor of Eritrea and the Governor-General of the Sudan, accompanied by their experts, should arrange to meet together to consider the problem, and should either effect a solution themselves with expert advice or should delegate a committee of experts to propose a solution. His Majesty's Government are consulting the Sudan Government in regard to these proposals, which they are disposed to welcome.