§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, What has been the cause of provocation leading to the Ashantee incursion on the Gold Coast, and whether it appears capable of removal; whether this Country is engaged in the way of protectorate on that Coast, not only to aid the Fautee tribes in their own defence, but in disputing the access of the interior powers to the sea for commerce; whether the protectorate has been extended to the territories adjoining the forts newly acquired from the Dutch; whether we are actually implicated in a third Ashantee War on behalf of the neighbouring tribes by naval and military interference and supplies; and, if so, at whose expense; and, whether the King of Elmina is now a prisoner for refusing the oath of allegiance to the Queen, in reversal of the policy accepted by this House in 1865?
KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENIt is not easy, Sir, to state what has 1561 been the cause of provocation leading to the Ashantee invasion. It is reported to be connected with the transfer of Elmina from the Dutch to the British flag; but it happened at a time when we were engaged in friendly negotiations with Ashantee Envoys, who profess their ignorance of the cause. So far from disputing the access of the interior tribes to the sea for commerce, we desire to facilitate trade in every way, and have given particular assurances to the Ashantees to this effect. We exercise the same protectorate as the Dutch over the territories adjoining the ceded forts. We are assisting the tribes of the protectorate against this invasion, and the expense of arms and ammunition supplied to them, and of the Houssa Police, will be borne by Colonial Revenues. The King of Elmina is now a prisoner under suspicion of treasonable practices. The oath of allegiance was tendered to him as a test of loyalty, which he refused, and I know of no policy accepted by this House which has been reversed by this proceeding.