Dr Thomas Shiels: Yes, it was clearly stated that, before approval was given to the guarantee of the loan that is going to be floated in this connection, the whole matter would be brought before Parliament for consideration.
Dr Thomas Shiels: Yes.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I understand that there has been no modification of the order, but the Governor informs me that no copies of "Hojas Libres" have been introduced into the colony since May, 1929, and it is believed that publication ceased about a year ago.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I think I have already made it clear that our evidence is that the paper ceased publication about a year ago, and that there has been no effort to introduce it into the Colony for a considerable period.
Dr Thomas Shiels: The committee has presented an interim report to the Governor of Cyprus, but I am not aware whether its final recommendations have yet been submitted. I can give no undertaking as to publication. The Governor will be consulted on the point when the full report has been received and considered.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the proposed Geological Survey of the Island. The estimated cost, spread over five years, was between £30,000 and £40,000. The Government of Cyprus felt itself unable, in view of the existing financial stringency, to contemplate the adoption of proposals involving such a considerable expenditure. The Director of Land Registration and Surveys is at...
Dr Thomas Shiels: No, Sir. I have received no report from the Government of Cyprus on the subject.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I am not prepared to admit that the main object of the Cyprus Elementary Education Law of 1929 was that suggested in the question. The question of transfers is one for the local administration, and my Noble Friend is not aware of any grounds for his intervention.
Dr Thomas Shiels: Yes, the question of transference was involved, but that really is a local matter.
Dr Thomas Shiels: These representations were referred to the Governor, who informed me that at no time has the Cyprus Government expressly authorised any interference with the correspondence of the representative in London of the National Council. The Governor stated that a postal censorship had been imposed in the months of December and January last, and that, if the representative was in correspondence with...
Dr Thomas Shiels: If my hon. Friend has any evidence which suggests that the powers have been improperly used, I shall certainly be very glad to go into it; otherwise, it is not a matter for me.
Dr Thomas Shiels: My hon. Friend is presumably referring to a recent report on the General Hospital at Kuala Lumpur by a sub-committee appointed at a public meeting of the residents of Selangor. The report has been carefully examined by the local authorities, and my Noble Friend is satisfied that many of the statements made in it are exaggerated and based upon misapprehensions. The High Commissioner for the...
Dr Thomas Shiels: If the hon. and gallant Member will refer to Article 5 of the treaty he will find that the assumption that Iraq will have the right to call upon British forces to maintain internal order is without foundation. The second part of the question therefore does not arise. It is not contemplated that the British forces retained in Iraq shall be at the disposal of any but British authority who will...
Dr Thomas Shiels: I have referred the hon. and gallant Member to Article 5, and I have pointed out that the suggestion in his question, that the Iraq Government have the right to call upon British troops, is not accurate. I think he will find, if he looks at Article 5, that it confirms my reply.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I am not aware that petroleum has been discovered in payable quantities in the neighbourhood of the Dead Sea. I understand that in 1927 the Standard Oil Company, on behalf of whom investigations had been conducted, were granted permission to re-transfer to the original holders certain "permis de recherche" granted by the Turkish Government before the War. I also understand that some...
Dr Thomas Shiels: A Bill was introduced into the Fiji Legislative Council in February last, but my Noble Friend is not aware whether it has yet been passed. He is communicating with the Governor on the matter.
Dr Thomas Shiels: As far as can be ascertained, representations of the nature referred to by the hon. Member have been received from Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and the Leeward Islands. These were contained in petitions in identical terms addressed to His Majesty. For further information regarding these petitions I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd)...
Dr Thomas Shiels: The Mauritius Financial Commission will consist of Sir Ivo Elliott, Bart., of the Indian Civil Service, who will preside over the Commission, and Mr. N. G. Loughnane, C.B., a member of the Home Civil Service. With my hon. Friend's permission I will circulate a copy of the terms of reference in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Dr Thomas Shiels: It left England to-day.
Dr Thomas Shiels: I dealt with this point yesterday in the course of a reply which I gave to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for Chelmsford (Colonel Howard-Bury), to which I would refer the hon. Member.
