6. Mr. CHARLES ROBERTSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign 1183 Affairs if he is aware that the Magi Commission was appointed in 1919 to carry out certain inquiries in Abyssinia, that this Commission was composed of three Abyssinian notables and two British subjects, and that these British subjects were nominated by the British Govern merit; can he say whether the Report of this Commission was submitted to His Majesty's Government; and whether it will be made available to Members of this House?
Mr. McNEILLThe Magi Commission consisting of representatives of His Majesty's and the Abyssinian Governments was appointed in 1918. Its chief duty was to establish the position of the frontier between Abyssinia and British territory in order that raiders from the Abyssinian side might no longer be able to plead ignorance that they were in British territory. The mission was accomplished and its Report received, but it would be misleading to publish a Report nearly four years old describing a state of affairs which has to a very large extent ceased to exist.
Mr. ROBERTSIs it not a fact that the Report contained the statement that gangs of slaves yoked together had been seen marching through Abyssinia?
Mr. McNEILLYes, I dare say that that is true, but as I stated in my answer we have the best reasons for hoping that this state of things has ceased to exist to a very large extent.