§ Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the confusion which now exists in Eritrea as a result of the control of the garrison troops and that of the civilian population being vested in two officers of the same rank, with the result that there is frequently friction and reference back to G.H.Q., Cairo, 1,000 miles away; and whether he will vest responsibility for both troops and civilian population in one officer.
§ Mr. BellengerThe organisation existing in Eritrea is the same which obtains in other territories under British military administration, that is that the military commander is responsible for the command, training and administration of troops in the area, while the chief administrator is responsible for the administration of the civil government of the territory. I am satisfied that the existing directions to the military commander and the chief administrator of Eritrea are satisfactory and are not the cause of friction. It is inevitable that in certain matters reference back to G.H.Q. Middle East Land Forces, may be necessary at times. The302W practice of having control of the garrison troops and that of civilian population vested in two officers of the same rank is quite normal. To invest one officer with the responsibility for both these tasks would not be- appropriate in the circumstances, and would, I consider, be a retrograde step.
§ 34. Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the state of tension between the Sudanese garrison in Eritrea and the Eritrean population; and what action he proposes to take to relieve this tension.
§ Mr. BellengerI am well aware of the tension which existed in Eritrea as a result of the incident on 28th August in Asmara. Since then, the Sudanese troops in Asmara have been moved to a more remote part of the country where clashes are less likely to occur. British troops have taken their place in Asmara. The tension has now relaxed considerably.
§ Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War how many soldiers and civilians were killed or injured in the disturbances at Asmara, Eritrea, on 28th September, 1946.
§ Mr. BellengerI am not aware of any disturbances at Asmara on 28th September but during those on 28th August, to which I presume my hon. Friend is referring, three members of the Sudan Defence Force were killed and 13 injured, one Italian civilian was killed and 9 injured and 39 Eritrean civilians were killed and 62 injured.
§ Mr. Rees-Williamsasked the Secretary of State for War by what court Sudanese soldiers are to be tried for their alleged part in the riots at Asmara, Eritrea, on 28th September, 1946; how the court is to be constituted; and whether any representatives of the British Military Administration will be members of the court.
§ Mr. BellengerI understand that a court-martial has begun in connection with incidents on 28th August, but I have no further information at present. I have called for a report and will write to my hon. Friend.