§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the nature of the reply of the Regent of Abyssinia on the 22nd September to His Majesty's representative of Addis Ababa on the subject of the proposed barrage on the Blue Nile; what is the nature of the Note sent, or to be sent, by Mr. Bentinck to Ras Taffari with the object of carrying the negotiations for the proposed barrage a step further; and whether a British firm of suitable standing and with the necessary finance is available and ready to undertake the necessary work?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONSince negotiations with the Abyssinian Government are actually in progress, I regret that I am not in a position to make any statement on them. A statement at this stage would appear to me scarcely compatible with the courtesy we owe to the Government of Abyssinia, and would not, I think, conduce to the friendly settlement which is our object.