§ Mr. Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement on the application of the 1897 Treaty and the 1954 Agreement between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia to the proposed union between the Somaliland Protectorate and Somalia.
§ The Prime MinisterI have been asked to reply.
Following the termination of the responsibilities of Her Majesty's Government for the government of the Protectorate, and in the absence of any fresh instruments, the provisions of the 1897 Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty should, in our view, be regarded as remaining in force as between Ethiopia and the successor State. On the other hand, Article III of the 1954 Agreement, which comprises most of what was additional to the 1897 Treaty, would, in our opinion, lapse.