§ Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement in regard to the future status of the British Jarvis, Baker, and Howland islands in the Central Polynesian Sporades and the attempts which are being made to establish occupational ownership on behalf of the United States; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. THOMASI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply made by me to a question on this subject put by the Noble Lord the Member for Central Bristol (Lord Apsley) on 11th February. I am not in a position to make a further statement.
§ Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement in regard to the situation in Christmas Island, and the attempts at annexation on behalf of the United States by settling American citizens of Hawaiian birth on this island which is listed in the Colonial Office Year Book as a British possession?
Mr. THOMASChristmas Island is part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. His Majesty's Government have no knowledge of any American citizen having been settled on the island at the32W instance of the United States Government, nor has any communication been received from that Government suggesting that British sovereignty over this island is in any way questioned.
§ Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement in regard to the situation in British Fanning and Washington Islands in the Pacific and the attempts made to colonise or otherwise annex these islands by a Foreign Power; and what steps, if any, he has taken, or proposes to take, in the matter?
Mr. THOMASFanning Island and Washington Island are part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, and His Majesty's Government have received no communication from any foreign Government suggesting that British sovereignty of either of these islands is in any way open to question.
§ Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of certain attempts by Congressman Samuel Wilder King to establish a claim to certain islands in the Pacific, all of them listed as British in the Colonial Office Year Book; and whether he will seek to obtain an assurance from the Government of the United States that such action by persons of American citizenship will be officially discouraged?
Mr. THOMASI have seen a Press report to the effect, indicated in the first part of the question. The islands mentioned in that report are those referred to in the three other questions put by my hon. Friend. I would invite his attention to my replies to those questions.