§ 1. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is aware of a proposed Danish-German agreement for large monopoly concessions for roadways, public works, forests, lands, and minerals in the Republic of Liberia; whether he can say if, under this agreement, an obligation is placed upon the Liberian Legislature to render illegal the commerce of British merchants in certain parts of the territory; and what action, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)His Majesty's Government are aware that negotiations for a concession have been proceeding for some time between the Liberian Government and a Danish-German group, and have seen a draft of the concession. My latest information is to the effect that this draft has undergone considerable modifications and in particular that those provisions which would be calculated to produce the situation referred to in the second part of the question have been, or will be, deleted. At the same time I shall continue to watch the situation closely and shall not hesitate to invoke, if necessary, the Anglo-Liberian Treaty of Friendship and Commerce of 1848, which provides for the liberty of British subjects to trade in Liberia.
§ Mr. WHITEHas the right hon. Gentleman any information as to the date at which this proposal comes into operation?
§ Sir J. SIMONI cannot give information as to that.