§ 25. Sir BASIL PETOasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that rich iron ore deposits, reported to aggregate 98 million tons of 68 per cent. of iron ore above water level, are in a group of three small Australian islands in the Yampi Sound, north-west of Australia, and have been leased by the Australian Government to a Japanese syndicate, the ore to be worked by Australian labour and shipped to Japan; and whether the imperial aspects of this development were discussed by the Dominions Office before the concession was granted?
Mr. M. MacDONALDMy information is that no lease of the islands referred to, or of any iron ore deposits which exist there, has been granted to Japanese interests. The latter part of the question, therefore, does not arise.