§ Mr. J. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how often, in the past, British Somalis of the Ogaden have been tried in consular courts of justice; and what was the date of the Franco-Ethiopian Treaty confirming this franchise to which the United Kingdom was a signatory.
§ Mr. TurtonOur Consular Courts in Ethiopia ceased to operate from the time of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in 35W 1936 and were formally abolished by the Ethiopia (Termination of Jurisdiction) Order in Council of 1942. As the records of these courts are stored in Addis Ababa, it would be impossible to answer the first part of the Question without undue expenditure of time and labour. As regards the second part of the Question, the Franco-Ethiopian Treaty of 10th January, 1908, established extra-territorial rights for French subjects in Ethiopia. Her Majesty's Government were not a signatory to this Treaty.