HC Deb 31 July 1939 vol 350 cc1972-3W
Mr. Thornton-Kemsley

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what plans have the Governments of East Africa to ensure the conservation of soil fertility and to prevent the spread of arid conditions in the East African territories?

Mr. M. MacDonald

The Departments of Agriculture of all the territories in East Africa have made the conservation of soil fertility the basis of their work. Surveys have been made of areas where deterioration in soil conditions and degeneration in vegetation cover have occurred, and various steps—such as terracing, afforestation and destocking —have been taken to improve conditions and to check further damage. As regards Kenya in particular, I have recently asked the Governor for comprehensive proposals for dealing further with the whole problem of soil conservation in all its aspects."

Mr. R. Morgan

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make any statement with regard to the fines demanded by Nazi representatives from German Jews in East Africa?

Mr. M. MacDonald

From the inquiries which I have made it appears that Kenya is the only East African Dependency in which such a demand has been received, and that only one case is known. In March last a demand notice was received by a German Jewish resident of Nairobi from the Berlin Revenue Office; it is understood that the recipient, who owns some property in Germany, has so far ignored the demand.