THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI wish to ask whether the noble Marquess at the head of the Government can give the House any information with regard to the unfortunate difficulty that has arisen between the Italian Consul and the Sultan of Zanzibar?
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)My Lords, the information which we possess is exclusively telegraphic. The incident has come upon us somewhat suddenly, and I do not think that we know very much more than appears in the newspapers. The Italian Consul states 1315 that he has suffered an affront at the hands of the Sultan of Zanzibar, and requires, as reparation for that affront, the cession of certain territory called Kismayu, on the mainland. He further states that this territory was promised to the Italian Government by the Sultan. Both these allegations, I understand, are denied by the Sultan himself, and that is where the matter stands at the present moment. I see that the Italian Consul has lowered his flag.