§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the joint protest from 16 Sarawak Associations sent last July; and if he will state the nature of his reply.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsI have been asked to reply. The protest was against the cession of Sarawak. The Governor has been asked to inform the senders that it 251W has been received, but it does not in my right hon. Friend's opinion establish any grounds for altering the Government's attitude on this matter, which has been publicly stated on several occasions. The reply can only be to invite attention to those statements, and the Governor will be asked to do this.