§ 20. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the wharves, railways and airports at Massawa are being destroyed by British authorities.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo wharves of railways at Massawa have been destroyed. There is no airport, only a landing-strip, and it is not being destroyed.
§ Mr. FreemanIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there are many buildings and establishments in this port and in the adjoining naval base which have been handed over or sold to the French or Egyptian authorities and which are now being destroyed? Before he permits any other demolition, will he consult the Ethiopian Government with a view to avoiding such destruction, as there is already much destruction going on in many directions?
§ Mr. LloydThe Question on the Order Paper refers solely to railways, wharves and airports, and I have answered with regard to them. So far as the demolition of the naval base is concerned, that was a decision taken long ago, and that is the decision which has been implemented.
§ Mr. FreemanBut will the right hon. and learned Gentleman not consult the Ethiopian Government with a view to avoiding any further demolition in the naval base which serves no useful purpose?
§ Mr. AwberyIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that Ethiopia was the loyal ally of this country from the beginning of the war? Would it not have been a gracious act on our part to have left these things or to have handed them over to the Ethiopian Government?
§ Mr. LloydThe decision to abolish the naval base was taken a long time before the United Nations decision that Eritrea should be federated with Ethiopia.