§ 83. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War why 200 Italian business men have been permitted to establish themselves in business in Eritrea, additional to the 300 already authorised to go there; and whether these additional 200 are persons who had not previously been in business in the country.
§ Mr. BellengerAt present Italians may in general only return to Eritrea on urgent compassionate grounds and, in view of the acute economic situation in the territory, and the consequent high rate of unemployment among the Italian population, the administration authorities are making every endeavour to repatriate Italians to Italy and to reduce the number of Italians in the territory which it cannot economically support. On humanitarian grounds, however, mainly for the purpose of reuniting families, small numbers of Italians have recently been allowed to return to Eritrea. Simultaneously, the 333W Italian Government have accepted a much larger number of Italians from the territory. I have no specific knowledge of the 200 additional Italian business men to whom my hon. Friend refers and am obtaining information on the subject.
§ 84. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to review the sentences passed by a military court in Eritrea on a number of Eritreans, arising out of a demonstration held on 28th July, 1946; and whether he will take into account the provocation to which the accused men were subjected.
§ Mr. BellengerSentences on 18 of the accused involved in the disturbances in Eritrea in July have been reduced, and charges have been withdrawn or acquittal resulted in 22 other cases.
§ 85. Mr. D. Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make available to Members of the House a full report of the incidents which caused the death of more than 40 Eritreans and injury to a number of other natives at Asmara on 28th August, 1946; and why members of the 13th Battalion Sudanese Defence Force were permitted in the streets of Asmara armed with rifles and Bren guns on the day in question.
§ Mr. BellengerThe incidents which occurred in Asmara on 28th August have their roots in long standing racial and religious antipathy between the Sudanese and Eritreans. On the day in question, which was the Moslem feast of Bairam, trouble started with an attack by Eritrean natives on some 13 unarmed Sudanese Defence Force soldiers. A court of inquiry has investigated the incident and the report, which has just been received in London, is being examined.