§ 56. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that a large proportion of the native quarter of Massawa was burnt during the British administration of Eritrea, that upwards of 70 steel-reinforced concrete buildings were destroyed by the Administration, and that a dredger, a floating dock, a cement factory and other installations were sold overseas, Ethiopia being excluded from the bargain sale, if Her Majesty's Government will make a gift of British shipping to the Ethiopian Government as a partial recompense for these losses.
§ Mr. NuttingThe imputations in the first part of the Question are completely unfounded. The British Administration in Eritrea were not responsible for improper demolitions and disposals in160W Massawa; nor was Ethiopia wrongfully deprived of benefit.
The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.