§ MR. M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he would state to the House what instructions have been given to the Administrator at Cape Coast, and to the Administrator in Chief of the West African Settlements with regard to the Fanti Confederation; whether Her Majesty's Government intend to avail themselves of the facilities offered by that Confederation for the formation and maintenance of roads, the general education of the young native people, and the development of agricultural, mineral, and other resources in the protected territories of the Gold Coast, as proposed by the confederated kings and chiefs in the Constitution adopted by the said Fanti Confederation; and, whether Her Majesty's Government propose to grant compensation to the persons who were imprisoned at Cape Coast by Mr. Salmon, the acting Administrator?
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENSir, the Administrator in Chief of the West African Settlements has been instructed that Her Majesty's Government have no wish to discourage any legitimate efforts on the part of the Fanti kings and chiefs to establish for themselves any improved form of Government. As long, however, as they live under the protection of the British Government, that Government must be consulted previously to the framing of new institutions. Our information does not lead us to believe that the recent movement was of a character at all likely to afford such facilities as those mentioned in the Question; and until we receive further reports upon the subject, 37 I cannot announce any intention upon the part of Her Majesty's Government, nor can I enter into the question of compensation.