§ 4. Mr. Arthur Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the apprehension caused in Egypt by the concentration of large Italian forces on the Egyptian-Libyan frontier, he proposes to make representations to the Italian Government 3 under the terms of the joint declaration of 2nd January, 1937?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Cranborne)No, Sir. I have no reason to suppose that the reinforcement of troops in Libya to which the hon. Member refers is directed against Egypt.
§ 5. Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the approximate strength of the Italian forces now stationed in Libya, together with the numbers by which such forces have been increased during the past three months?
§ Viscount CranborneThe normal garrison in Libya, consisting mainly of native troops, is understood to be about 20,000. The Italian Government recently decided to increase this garrison by two Army Corps, and it is understood that up to the present and in the course of the last three months 45,000 to 50,000 troops have been transferred there. So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, the numbers of the native garrison remain unchanged.
§ Mr. HendersonCan the Noble Lord say why it is necessary to treble the number of troops on this frontier?
§ Viscount CranborneNo, Sir.
§ Sir Percy HarrisDoes it mean that there is a lot of unrest among the natives, in spite of statements to the contrary by Signor Mussolini?
§ Mr. HendersonIs the Noble Lord aware that grave anxiety has been caused in Egypt as a result of this massing of troops on the Egyptian frontier?
§ Viscount CranborneI can only say that an Italian communique has stated that the Egyptian Government have no cause for apprehension.