§ LORD NOEL-BUXTONasked His Majesty's Government if they will state how far the undertakings of the Abyssinian Government, reported in the White Paper Cmd. 4153, regarding the raids of March last into the British Sudan, have been carried out, giving details respectively regarding the recovery 1112WA of men, women and children, and also as to the payment of compensation and the punishment of the raiders.
§ VISCOUNT HAILSHAMThe time limit fixed for the implementing of the undertakings given by the Abyssinian Government does not expire until May 1st next. The reason for this lengthy period of grace is that physical conditions, and notably the advent of the rainy season, render impossible during a great part of the year the despatch of an armed Abyssinian force into the territory of the Anuaks who were responsible for the raids. The latest information received by His Majesty's Government indicates that no such operations will be possible before February at the earliest.
In the meantime the Abyssinian Government have given an earnest of their intention to fulfil their undertakings by the despatch of their frontier agent, accompanied by an official of the Sudan Government, to visit the tribes which have participated in the raids and to endeavour by peaceful means to persuade them to give up their captives and loot. Owing to the recalcitrant attitude of the chiefs concerned, however, these peaceful methods have up to the present yielded only meagre results. No men were carried off as the result of these particular raids, but seven women and two children have been recovered out of the total of nineteen women and forty-eight children who have to be accounted for. In addition a small proportion of the captured cattle has been recovered. It is unlikely that any compensation will be paid until the expiry of the period of grace.