asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to continue the grant in aid of the English school at Cairo after the expiration of the seven-year period for which it was originally made?

The grant was originally made with the object of enabling the school to tide over the difficult initial period until it could become self-supporting. It is impossible at this stage to say whether this object will have been attained by 1933, when it is at present contemplated that the grant should terminate, for although attendance has greatly increased many of the children are such as would receive free or assisted education in this country. The increase of numbers has imposed a heavy strain on the school's revenue, and great efforts are being made locally to raise an endowment fund to take the place of the present grant when it ultimately expires.

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that this money is being well spent?

At such a distance as that, it, is nearly impossible for me to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the proposal that all the nations who are signatories to the Kellogg Pact should be invited to add a rider giving the Government of each the authority, if and when necessary, to prohibit the export of mineral products to any nation violating the Treaty; and whether he will consider the possibility of taking action on these lines?

I understand that a proposal of the nature indicated by the hon. Member was recently made by a distinguished scientist. So far as States Members of the League are concerned, any such proposal is superfluous, in view of the obligations imposed by Article 16 of the Covenant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Foreign Office, either independently or in conjunct on with other Powers, has taken any steps to induce Turkey and Persia to ratify the Opium Conventions; and, if not, whether it will do so, having in view how far the success of the anti-drug campaign depends upon united international action?

His Majesty's representatives in Turkey have from time to time urged upon the Turkish Government the desirability of their acceding to the Opium Conventions, and the question of Persia's attitude to these Conventions has been the subject of discussion at the Council of the League of Nations, of which Persia is a member. Neither the Turkish nor the Persian Government can be in any doubt as to the importance which is attached by His Majesty's Government, as by other parties to the Opium Conventions, to their undertaking at an early date the obligations of these instruments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the terms of the instructions given to Sir Miles Lampson in initiating with the Chinese Government the conference respecting the abolition of extraterritoriality in China and kindred questions?

Negotiations on the subject of abolition of extra-territoriality are now in progress, but no general conference is being held. I regret that I cannot disclose the instructions to Sir Miles Lampson while negotiations are in progress. No kindred question has been or is to be discussed unless the Provisional Court at Shanghai can be termed such. As to this, the agreement mentioned in the answer to the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Woolwich West (Sir K. Wood), on the 12th February, was to be signed on behalf of His Majesty's Minister and other Ministers concerned and the Chinese Government on the 17th instant.

Can the right hon. Gentleman satisfy this House that the terms of reference to Sir Miles Lampson are such as to safeguard the lives and properties of British subjects in that country?

I think they are.

Will the House have an opportunity of expressing an opinion with regard to these negotiations before they are finally ratified?

We have already undertaken to lay all treaties and to have a discussion before ratification.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will use the good offices of the Government to endeavour to persuade the Government of Mexico to apply for membership of the League of Nations?

His Majesty's Government would, of course, be very glad to see Mexico make application for admission to membership of the League of Nations, but the question whether, and, if so, when, such application should be made is one which only the Mexican Government can decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there have been any negotiations with regard to the ownership of Jan Mayen Island, in the Arctic Ocean; and what is the present position of the different claims to the ownership of the island?

His Majesty's Government are now discussing with the Norwegian Government the position created by the Norwegian decree of annexation of Jan Mayen Island, of 8th May, 1929. I am not at present in a position to make any further statement.

Is the right hon. Gentleman hopeful that this matter will be brought to a satisfactory conclusion in the near future?

I am afraid I cannot add to the answer I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the number and names of British ships which have been seized by the American Government within the prescribed ocean limits as the result of the prohibition enforcement campaign within the last six months; and whether we have made any protests in respect of any of them and, if so, which?

According to my information, six British vessels suspected of being engaged in the illicit liquor trade have been seized by the United States Preventive authorities during the last six months. No protests have been made in any of the above cases. With the hon. and gallant Member's permission, I will circulate the names and details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any negotiations and, if so, of what nature have been set on foot in connection with the coming expiration of the Congo Basin Treaties?

No, Sir; but the matter is being carefully considered by the competent Departments of His Majesty's Government, several of whom are concerned.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the recent Government instruction to all Departments of State to buy British goods, it is his intention in future to purchase British meat and wheat for the Navy?

I am unable to recommend any departure from the decision already announced. The difficulties in the way of adopting the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion have not changed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the recent Government instruction to all Departments of State to buy British goods, it is his intention in future to purchase British meat and wheat for the Royal Air Force?

The meat and flour requirements for the Royal Air Force at Home are obtained through the agency of the War Office and the replies given and to be given to questions in regard to the supply of such commodities to the Army can be regarded as applicable also to the Royal Air Force.

Are we to conclude that the Air Force is behind the Army in regard to the use of British meat and British wheat?

I would rather see the Air Force as good as the Army in this respect.

Is any English wheat or English meat being used at the present time?

Yes, I think that some proportion of both English wheat and English meat is used in the Royal Air Force.

Are the Government not carrying out the policy of their predecessors?

I think the answer is in the affirmative.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the late Government gave instructions to the Departments that they should purchase British goods, and is it not a fact that the War Office and the Air Force are not carrying out those instructions?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when he proposes to publish the Report of the Commission recently sent, to the West Indies?

I am not yet able to name a date. The hon. Member is already aware from the reply given on the 5th of February to my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Camberwell (Dr. Morgan) that there will be no avoidable delay.

May we know before the Budget is introduced?

I can only say that there will be no avoidable delay. I cannot give any date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies at what date his Department received the text or was informed of the conclusions of the West Indian Commission?

Two parts of the Commissioners' Report were forwarded by them to my Noble Friend on the 28th of January, and a third on the 1st of February.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in estimating the amount of money required for the Zambesi bridge and railway extensions connected therewith, adequate allowance has been made for insuring against the possibility of the Zambesi and other rivers in the district changing their courses as a result of floods; and whether, in view of the recent unprecedented inundations, any further investigations are to be made in this connection?

As the result of special investigations during recent flood seasons modifications were made in the estimates, which are considered adequate to meet all such contingencies as those mentioned.

The estimates were increased, then, from the original estimates?

The estimates were modified. I cannot exactly state whether they were increased or not, but they were modified in deference to the alterations suggested by the consulting engineers who were sent out.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the growth in Uganda of the Christian sect known as Malakites; whether the Government of Uganda has decided on any steps for the suppression of this sect; and, if so, for what reasons?

As I am giving a full answer to my hon. Friends question, and it is rather long, I will, with his permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a judicial inquiry is being held into the deaths of six persons, members of the religious sect of Malakites, which occurred as the result of an affray at Kalagala, Uganda, on 20th July last; and, if so, whether the findings of such inquiry will be published?

A magisterial inquiry was held by the District Commissioner at Kampala last July immediately after the disturbance. The finding of the magistrate was that the five persons killed died from the results of injuries to the skull due to blows from heavy sticks received in the course of a riot provoked by the murderous assault by the deceased upon the persons of Mr. W. V. Kendall and Chief Susani Muinda; that the persons causing the deaths of the deceased were only carrying out their duty in law of using every effort to assist their lawful chief and to protect him and a British public servant from being assassinated; and that it was a case of "Justifiable Homicide." A full summary of the magistrate's report and finding was made public in Uganda. This was repeated in a telegram from Nairobi of the 31st July published in the "Times" of the 31st August.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the resolutions being unanimously passed at mass meetings of farmers, landowners, smallholders, and farm workers throughout Scottish counties appealing to the Government to check the importation of German subsidised oats and Algerian new or luxury potatoes, he can announce any remedial action being taken in this direction?

I can add nothing at present to what I have already said in reply to questions on this subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that by the importation of these Algerian potatoes it is considered that there is a serious risk of disease coming into this country?

Perhaps the hon. Member would be good enough to address that question to the Ministry of Agriculture?

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to introduce legislation to provide for the stabilisation of prices by the collective purchase of imported grain and meat?

This proposal is being carefully examined by the Departments concerned. I am not in a position to make any further statement at present.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman dispense with the support of the Liberal party in introducing such legislation?

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to introduce a Bill dealing with slum clearance?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave on the 3rd February in reply to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for North-East Bethnal Green (Major Nathan).

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that the Trade Disputes Bill is more important than this Slum Clearance Bill, seeing that the former is being introduced shortly?

I have not given a thought to the question of precedence.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that certain Arabs who have been in rebellion against the King of the Hejaz and Nejd are now at Basrah; whether their escape from armed pursuit by the forces of King Ibn Saud was facilitated by British aeroplanes and motor transport being placed at their disposal; and what reply it is proposed to return to the demand for their immediate surrender received from King Ibn Saud?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the negative; the last part of the question does not therefore arise. Several thousand tribesmen who had rebelled against King Ibn Saud's authority surrendered with their leaders to contingents of the British Royal Air Force in Koweit early last month. After guarantees had been obtained that they would receive humane treatment, they were handed over to King Ibn Saud, who expressed his deep gratitude for the assistance rendered by His Majesty's Government. A small party of tribesmen of doubtful nationality, who had previously been in association with the rebels, surrendered to Iraqi police at the end of December last. The question of the disposal of this party is now under discussion between the Governments of Iraq and Nejd.

Will the hon. Member see that none of these gentlemen are sent to their doom?

Yes, Sir; safeguards were obtained in all these cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the paramount chief and chiefs of the Bamangwato tribe, in Bechuanaland, are under the impression that it is the express desire of His Majesty's Government that an agreement giving rights to the British South Africa Company to prospect and mine for gold anywhere in their territory shall be signed without delay by the paramount chief; and what steps he proposes to take to remove this impression?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the paramount chief of Bechuanaland is about to leave his country in order to make a personal appeal in London to the Secretary of State not to compel the Bamangwato tribe to sign any agreement permitting the exploitation of their country for gold and other minerals; and whether he will request the High Commissioner to inform the chief that the matter of signing the agreement is one solely for the chief himself, and that his refusal to sign will not prejudice relationships between the Bamangwato tribe and this country?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether it has been brought to his notice that the Imperial Secretary to the High Commissioner for South Africa has arranged that on or about the 20th of this month a public meeting shall be summoned in Bechuanaland at which it is proposed that the Resident Commissioner shall explain to the Bamangwato tribe a suggested agreement with the British South Africa Company permitting the exploitation of their territory for gold; and whether, as the chief of the Bamangwato and his people are opposed to mining operations in their territory, he will instruct the High Commissioner to make it clear to the paramount chief and his people that the Imperial Government has no wish whatever to press or persuade them to sign the proposed agreement?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any interview or interviews have taken place during the last few weeks between the High Commissioner of South Africa and representatives of the British South Africa Company upon the question of a mining concession in Bechuanaland; and whether the Secretary of State has been kept fully informed of the nature and results of these discussions?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that the British South Africa Company has stated that the former Secretary of State for the Colonies was unwilling to agree to the use of administrative compulsion upon the Bamangwato tribe of Bechuanaland to permit mining in their territory; whether any departure from this policy has been made; and, if so, whether the High Commissioner of South Africa has been informed of any change in policy?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he is aware that Tshekedi, the chief of the Bamangwato tribe, has been informed that, if he persists in his refusal to sign an agreement for exploiting his country for gold, the High Commissioner will issue to the directors of the British South Africa Company, on behalf of the Imperial Government, a proclamation giving the company permission to proceed with its operations; and will he inquire into this matter?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will arrange for the suggested proclamation of mining regulations for the Bechuanaland Protectorate to be deferred until he has had an opportunity of receiving representations on the question on behalf of the native interests which will be affected.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will fake steps to ensure that no pressure of any kind is brought to bear on the Bamangwato tribe or their chief, Tshekedi, either officially or unofficially, so as to secure their consent to any mineral concession or signature to any document granting mineral rights in native territories and land in Bechuana land; and whether he will give an undertaking that no steps binding on the tribe will be agreed to by the Colonial Office until this question has been thoroughly investigated and, if necessary, ventilated in the House of Commons?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has been informed that the paramount chief and regent of the Bamangwato tribe is about to leave Serowe for London; whether any impediments have been put in the way of the chief visiting London; and whether he will take steps to see that no official action is taken which would make it difficult for the chief to follow the practice of his predecessor, Khama, in paying a visit to the Secretary of State in London?

The agreement which has been proposed to the Chief of the Bamangwato tribe is one to be substituted for the existing mineral concession granted to the British South Africa Company by Chief Khama in 1893. The question has arisen in connection with the proposed issue of a proclamation regulating mining in the Bechuanaland Protectorate, a matter which has been under consideration for some years, and is still being discussed with the British South Africa Company, who are interested, by virtue of the concessions and rights which they hold in the Protectorate. The proclamation, which will be referred in draft to the Secretary of State for approval before it is issued, is to be in a form in which it could be applied separately to Crown lands and to native reserves, the intention being that, before it is applied to the reserves, the old concessions held in the reserves should be revised so as to make them more favourable to the natives.

The Chief of the Bamangwato reserve was reluctant to enter into a new agreement with the company, and was granted an interview in the matter with the High Commissioner for South Africa on the 7th of August. The High Commissioner, while advising the Chief to accept the new agreement on the ground that it was more advantageous to the Bamangwato tribe than the existing concession of 1893, made it clear to him that no pressure was being placed upon him by the Government to sign it, and that the decision rested entirely with the Chief and the tribe. There is no reason to suppose that this was misunderstood by the Chief, but he subsequently intimated that he wished to proceed to England for discussion with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State deprecated this proposal, on the ground that he could not at an interview add to the full explanation already given to the Chief by the High Commissioner, who is fully acquainted with the position and with the views of His Majesty's Government; and it is not known yet whether, in the circumstances, the Chief has decided to come to England. As regards the reference to a public meeting to be held at Serowe on the 20th of February, the Secretary of State is informed that this meeting, which the High Commissioner had proposed to summon in order that the terms of the agreements could be explained to the Bamangwato tribe, has been cancelled.

While thanking the hon. Member for the fullness of his reply, may I ask him whether, in view of the very strong feeling that exists on this subject, he will receive a deputation to go into the whole matter, and, particularly, into the subject of the verbatim report, cabled to-day, of the speech of the Governor-General at Serowe?

The Dominions Office have no knowledge whatever of the meeting that took place on 20th January, but, if those who are interested in this matter desire it, I will suggest to my Noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he should receive a deputation.

Is it true that the Chief has been given until to-morrow to come to a decision with regard to the agreement, and that, if he does not come to a decision, action will be taken over his head?

As far as I am aware, there has been no compulsion whatever on the Chief to sign, and he can take his own course; if he chooses to sign, ho may do so; otherwise, he need not.

Has the Chief been threatened with action and told that he must decide by to-morrow?

Certainly not.

Do I understand that there has been nothing to prevent the Chief visiting this country if he wishes to do so?

I suppose if the Chief is determined to come he will be received by the Secretary of State, but he has been advised not to come, and told that it was not necessary.

Will the Under-Secretary see that his answer "Certainly not" is cabled out to-morrow?

I do not see that there is any necessity for doing that. I have given my answer to the hon. Member's question, and it is a very definite one.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, in view of the abandonment of Western Australian farm schemes as a result of the discovery of alkali deposits, he will draw the attention of that Government to the success which has attended farming on alkali lands in the Canadian Pacific belt in Western Canada as a result of corrective scientific treatment?

I will bring the hon. Member's question to the notice of His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether a despatch has been received from the Western Australian Government as to the abandonment of the farm schemes?

I cannot say.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can state the result of the communications by the Government with the Australian Government concerning the suspension of the grant of assisted passages to Australia?

I am not in a position to add anything to the telegrams between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia which were published in the Press of 13th December and 18th January last. From these the hon. Member will have seen that, in addition to the exception originally made in favour of the dependants of people already in Australia, the Commonwealth Government have agreed to accept as assisted migrants domestic workers as requisitioned by the State Governments and boy farm learners as approved by the States under proper safeguards regarding employment.

Am I to understand that nothing further has transpired since the telegrams which have been passing?

If the right hon. Gentleman had listened to my answer, he would have heard that something further has transpired. We have got further additions to the class of migrants that the Commonwealth of Australia would accept.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he can arrange for the Irish Grants Committee to hold special sittings to hear cases which came before them and in which fresh evidence has been produced but could not be put before the Committee before it reached the end of its sittings?

The Irish Grants Committee heard its last case on the 3rd of February and is no longer in being for the purpose of hearing cases. The Secretary of State regrets that it is not possible to accede to the proposal made by the hon. Member.

Before making that decision final, will the hon. Gentleman consider the very few extremely hard cases referred to in the question, and see whether some arrangement cannot be made in regard to them?

I cannot hold out any hope to the hon. Member that any further consideration will be given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he will furnish comparative figures showing the amount of the subsidies paid in respect of commercial aviation, or the carrying of air mails, by the following nations; the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, and Italy?

The subsidies voted in this country, Germany, France and Italy in respect of the financial year beginning at different dates in 1929, were respectively £354,000, 10,550,000 reich marks (excluding financial assistance from local authorities), 172,300,000 francs and 56,500,000 lire. No comparable figure can be quoted for the United States of America, since financial assistance for this purpose is there given in the shape not of direct subsidies but of mail contracts placed at higher rates than those recoverable from the public through air mail surcharges; the amount thus voted for payments to air mail contractors for the year beginning 1st July, 1929, was $17,600,000.

With regard to the German figures, could the hon. Member get the figures for the subsidies from the local authorities which I think are by far the biggest factor?

I agree that they are by far the biggest factor, but there is some difficulty in getting them; if possible, I will get them for my hon. Friend.