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which I look in the future with much hope and interest though 
its development may take years to mature-—I mean that part 
on its north-eastern frontier along the Juba river. I am glad 
to see that we are to have at our session to-day papers from 
the distinguished and welcome delegates from Italy—papers on 
the question of the prospects of cotton in Italian Somaliland, 
which joins our frontier on the Juba river. But I feel that 
in this matter we ought to do more than join frontiers—we 
ought to join hands. In the arid parts of the tropics the 
salvation of agriculture is water conservation and irrigation. 
There is hardly a self-respecting Colony or Protectorate or 
possession which has not been infected with the prevailing 
fashion and got its own barrage. Our Northern Somaliland 
offers no openings for agriculture—if Dr. Brockman will 
forgive me for saying so—its principal products, for which 
there is no European demand at present, are camels, dervishes 
and Mullahs. But in Italian Somaliland to the south where it 
joins our territory on the Juba river I think there is a great 
opening for future development. I am told that the Juba 
river, being constructed by a far-seeing, one might almost 
say a commercial, Providence, is a series of terraces which 
might form a succession of natural barrages if only the upper 
course of masonry is added by human agency. If this is done 
there are miles of suitable land on each side of the river 
which can be irrigated by gravitation with a prospect of 
unlimited crops of cotton and other tropical products. 
I hope I shall not appear in my enthusiasm to be using the 
language of a company promoter. I do not suggest to any- 
one that they should rush to peg out claims on the Juba. 
They will find anything but a friendly reception from the 
Marehan tribe, against whom an expedition has recently been 
sent. But the reason I allude to this matter is that we have 
here delegates from Italy, and I would like to say to them: 
“When you go back to Rome worry your Foreign Office 
to make an agreement with us over the waters of the Juba 
river, and I will do the same here.’’ Foreign Offices are 
notoriously inert, but if each pushes from our own side we 
may overcome the wis inertie. Italy and Great Britain have 
been the best of friends for fully acentury. Itis a memory of 
pride to us that British statesmanship played no small part in 
the emancipation and unification of the Italian states, and I 
should be glad if it proved possible in the future for us as 
neighbours in a new continent to pursue a commercial entente 
which would contribute to the industrial prosperity of both our 
lands. I should like to see some of those savage tribes hand- 
ling the boll rather than the spear; and I hope to see the gin 
of cotton some day replace the gin of commerce. 
On the West Coast of Africa some progress is being made. 
