HC Deb 22 September 1948 vol 456 cc117-8W
110. Mr. Turton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent change of administration in the Reserved Area and the Ogaden.

Mr. Mayhew

One of the provisions of the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement of the 19th December, 1944, was that the Reserved Area and the Ogaden should remain under British Military Administration. This Agreement is still in force. Nevertheless, as a result of discussions between the Ethiopian Government and His Majesty's Government, British Military Administration was withdrawn from the town of Jigjiga and the surrounding area last May. The withdrawal of British Military Administration from the greater part of the Ogaden should be completed within the next few days, and, as in the case of Jigjiga, the territory in question will then have reverted to Ethiopian administration