§ 4. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what advantages are to be derived by the Sudan from the construction of the Gebel Aulia dam on the White Nile by the Egyptian Government; whether he is aware that the Governor-General of the Sudan appealed to the Egyptian minister in London, then visiting the Sudan, to use his influence with the Prime Minister of Egypt to stop the building of the dam, as it was sure to cause inconveniences to the Sudan Government; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards this project?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe Gebel Aulia dam is primarily designed to serve the interests of Egypt. The Sudan Government is to receive compensation for damages to the interests of the riparian population. I have no knowledge of the appeal by the Governor-General of the Sudan to which the hon. Member refers, but I am aware that the construction of the dam may cause same inconvenience to the Sudan. The attitude of His Majesty's Government remains as set out in Command Paper No. 3348 of 1929, where it is stated that they regard the safeguarding of the natural and historical rights of Egypt in the waters of the Nile as a fundamental principle of British policy.