Colonel WEDGWOOD: Could the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether this question of federating the East African Crown Colonies is moving forward at the present time, and whether it is going to be a question of equality among the different States, or whether the headquarters will be in Kenya ?

Mr. AMERY: It would be premature to go into any details. The question is, naturally, one which has long been under consideration. It would certainly be on the basis of equality among the constituent elements of the federation, if any federation were considered desirable.

NIGERIA (LAND POLICY).

3rd March,

Colonel WEDGWOOD asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received copies of the address of the Governor of Nigeria, in which he announced a change in the land policy of Nigeria?

Mr. AMERY: I have received the address and am having a copy placed in the Library. The Governor did not announce a change in the land policy of Nigeria.

INDIAN SUBJECTS (SOUTH AFRICA).

21st March.

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Government of India to arrange with the Government of the Union of South Africa for an official representative of the Government of India to reside in South Africa to look after the interest of Indians there?

Earl WINTERTON: The recent agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the Union contemplates the appointment of an agent of the former in the Union in order to secure continuous and effective co-operation between the two Governments. This matter is receiving the Government of India's earnest consideration.

24th March.

Mr. LANSBURY asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it has been finally decided by the Government of India to appoint an agent in the Union of South Africa, in accordance with the agreement regarding the status of the Indian community in South Africa recently arrived at between the representatives of the Governments of South Africa and India; and, if so, when he hopes to be in a position to announce the name of the person selected by the Government of India to fill this post?

Earl WINTERTON: I have nothing to add at present to the reply given to Mr. Pethick-Lawrence on Monday last.

21st March.

GOLD COAST (MINE WORKERS, MORTALITY). Mr. W. BAKER asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to state the effect of Ordinance No. 19 of 1925, and to supply comparative figures showing any improvement which may have

taken place in the death rate of mine workers on the Gold Coast since the ordinance was introduced?

Mr. AMERY: I am not yet in a position to supply the hon. Member with comparative figures, since the latest information available to me relates to the period from 1st April, 1925, to 31st March, 1926, while the new ordinance to which the hon. Member refers did not come into force until January, 1926.

BRITISH GUIANA (INDIAN FAMILIES).

Brigadier-General WARNER asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the committee appointed in British Guiana to inquire into the financial capacity of that island to the scheme recommended by Mr. Kunwar Maharajah Singh, C.I.E., for the introduction of 500 Indian families into that country, has arrived at any conclusion?

Colonel WEDGWOOD: Before this question is answered, may I inquire since when has British Guiana become an island?

Mr. AMERY: I am not aware that the Governor has yet received the report of the committee. May I add that British Guiana is not an island?

TROPICAL COLONIES (INFANTILE MORTALITY).

Mr. H. WILLIAMS asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether systematic work is being undertaken in the tropical Colonies for the purpose of reducing the heavy infantile mortality?

Mr. AMERY: Yes, Sir, measures are being taken in most tropical Colonies on the lines that have been successful in reducing infant mortality in this country, and in many of them the results compare not unfavourably with what has been accomplished here. The Governments of tropical Colonies are fully alive to the importance of this matter. Infant welfare clinics have been established and women doctors, nurses and health visitors, who have had special experience in this branch of medical work, are being appointed in increasing numbers.

Mr. ERSKINE: Is not the best way to save the children to kill the mosquitoes?

Mr. AMERY: That is obviously one remedy.

UGANDA (COTTON CROP).

23rd March.

Sir F. WISE asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what was the total amount of the cotton crop in Uganda in 1925 and 1926 ?

Mr. AMERY: The figures for 1925 and 1926 respectively, based on the Excise Duty collected in each year, are 180,823 and 166,581 bales of 400 lbs. INDIANS IN FIJI (REPORT).

24th March.

Mr. LANSBURY asked the Under-Secretary of State for India when the Report of the Indian delegation which proceeded to Fiji in 1922 was received by the Government of India; whether a copy of the Report has been received by the Secretary of State; and whether he will inform the House as to the cause of the delay in making known the findings of the delegation?

Earl WINTERTON: The Report was submitted to the Government of India in the latter part of 1922. The Secretary of State has received a copy. Its submission was followed by further discussions and correspondence regarding the position of Indians in Fiji, and a final decision regarding publication of the Report was deferred while these were in progress. Later papers have now been published, and it has been decided not to publish the 1922 Report.

SLAVE TRAFFIC (ABYSSINIA).

30th March.

Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action our representative to the League of Nations has taken to combat the traffic in slaves still going on in Abyssinia and elsewhere?

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN: I would refer the hon. Member; to the Reports of the British delegates of the Sixth and Seventh Assemblies of the League of Nations in September, 1925 and 1926 (Miscellaneous No. 1, 1926, Command 2576, and Miscellaneous No. 12, 1926, Command 2780). Mr. THOMSON: Is there anything more recent ?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN: I think not.

Mr. KIRKWOOD: Is there slave traffic going on in Abyssinia ?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN: I must ask for notice of that question. Mr. H. WILLIAMS: Does the Report say that there is slave traffic going on in China among the Chinese?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN: I do not know.

BURMA (ATTACK ON SLAVE-RELEASING PARTY), 4th April.

Mr. LUMLEY asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can give any information about the recent attack on one of the parties engaged in emancipating slaves under the orders of the Government of Burma ?

Earl WINTERTON: I greatly regret to say that the operations for the release of slaves in the region known as "the Triangle" have been temporarily interrupted by an attack made by some sixty or seventy Kachins from a village with a bad reputation on the party commanded by Mr. Porter. Captain West, a very gallant officer in charge of the military escort, was killed, also an Indian non-commissioned officer and a follower. Reinforcements have been sent up, and concerted action is being arranged under the command of Mr. Barnard. Latest reports show that all is well with the other parties in this area, and the disturbance seems to be purely local. Sir Harcourt Butler, the Governor of Burma, has started for Bhamo.

RHODESIA (NATIVE LABOUR).

Mr. AMMON asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Labour Committee appointed by the Congress of the Rhodesia Agricultural Union, and signed by certain members of the Legislative Council; whether he has any information as to the nature of the dispute between the missionaries and the Government; and what action is it proposed to take?

Mr. AMERY: I have seen the Report in the Rhodesian Press, but I have no other information on the subject, and it would be for the Government of Southern Rhodesia to initiate any action in regard to it. I do not gather from the Report that there has been any specific dispute between missionaries and the Government, though in one passage of the Report it is suggested that missionaries should avoid creating an impression in the native mind that they impugn the administrative authority of the Government.

Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSON asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the date for notifying adherence to the new Anti-Slavery Convention was 1st April, he can state how many States had adhered by the stipulated day; and whether signature or adherence carries with it a ratification of the Convention in question?

The UNDER-SEcretary of State for ForeIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSON): The Convention was open for signature until 1st April, and for accession after that date. The hon. Member will see that no State could acceed before 1st April. According to my most recent information, thirty-three States had signed previous to that date. The signatures of the Convention are subject to ratification, but the accessions are immediately operative and do not require ratification.

ABYSSINIA.

Mr. T. THOMSON asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, when Abyssinia entered the League of Nations, she did so under exceptional assurances with regard to her Treaty obligations; and if he can say what was the nature of these assurances and whether they have been carried out?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON: The declaration made by Abyssinia on admission to the League of Nations will be found on page 35 of Command Paper No. 2015, Miscellaneous No. 1 (1924). So far as I am aware, no communication on the matter has been addressed to the Abyssinian Government by the League, and it is for that body, as recipient of the assurances, to satisfy itself that they are carried out.

NEW HEBRIDES (LABOUR CONDITIONS).

7th April.

Mr. GILLETT asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the commission of inquiry into labour conditions in the New Hebrides will be given terms of reference capable of permitting an inquiry into the working of the judicial Courts of the Archipelago ?

Mr. ORMSBY-GORE: No, Sir. The terms of reference which have been published were settled at the time of the Imperial Conference, and there is no proposal under consideration for their extension.

2nd May.

Mr. ERNEST BROWN asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what will be the composition of the Commission to be appointed to report

upon the position of British settlers in the New Hebrides, with special reference to the disadvantages suffered by these British settlers as compared with the French settlers; and whether he is prepared to indicate the terms of reference to be given to this Commission ?

Mr. AMERY: The composition of this Commission which sat in the New Hebrides during April was as follows:

Sir Eyre Hutson, K.C.M.G. (High Commissioner for the Western Pacific); Brigadier-General T. Griffiths, C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O. (Administrator of Nauru); Major-General Sir G. S. Richardson, K.C.M.G., C.B., C.B.E. (Administrator of Western Samoa).

The terms of reference were :

To report upon the position of British settlers in the New Hebrides, with special reference to any disadvantages under which they may be working in comparison with French settlers.

In particular to consider:

(i.) The provision of an adequate supply of labour for British settlers; (ii.) any further measures to assist British settlers in the production and marketing of their crops.

And to indicate what financial assistance, if any, would be required from Government, whether by loan or otherwise, for carrying into effect any recommendations which the Commission may make.

23rd May.

Viscount SANDON asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies. whether the Report, with the evidence, of the Commission of Inquiry into the situation in the New Hebrides will be laid before the House; and when, approximately, it is to be expected ?

Mr. AMERY: No decision has been taken as to the publication of the Report. It is not expected that it will reach this country for some

weeks.

MANDATES COMMISSION (PETITIONS).

3rd May.

Mr. BUXTON asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of the oral hearing of petitioners by the Mandates Commission was considered by the Council of the League of Nations at its last session; and, if so, what conclusions were reached on this matter?

Captain MARGESSON: Yes, Sir. The Council decided that there was no occasion to modify the procedure which has hitherto been followed by the Mandates Commission in regard to this matter.

19th May.

RESTAURANTS, EDINBURGH (ASIATIC AND AFRICAN SUBJECTS).

Mr. SAKLATVALA asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the fact that certain restaurants in Edinburgh are refusing admission to Asiatic and African residents, not because of any complaints against their conduct, which is admitted to be