§ 44. Mr. H. Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is satisfied that treaties entered into with Egypt for the control of the levels of Lakes Victoria and Albert are still in the best interests of the peoples of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe waters of Lakes Victoria and Albert form part of the Nile system, and as such come within the scope of the Nile Waters Agreement of 1929. The East Africa Royal Commission saw no reason why it should not be possible, in accordance with the principles of that Agreement, to negotiate on behalf of the three territories an equitable share of the waters of the Nile; I agree with this view. Recently the Governments of Egypt and the Sudan have been informed that Her Majesty's Government formally reserve their rights to negotiate on behalf of the three territories with the Egyptian and Sudanese Governments for an agreed share of the waters of the Nile.
§ Mr. FraserIs my right hon. Friend aware that this statement of British policy will be most welcome in East Africa?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI thank my hon. Friend. We certainly have no intention of abdicating our rights in this matter.