HC Deb 24 February 1879 vol 243 cc1650-1
MR. DILLWYN (for Mr. CHAMBERLIAN)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Despatch from Sir Henry Bulwer, dated 12th June, No. 96, and mentioned on page 25 of the Papers respecting the Affairs of South Africa, presented to Parliament in February 1879, has been included in the correspondence hitherto published; and, if not, whether there is any objection to now laying it upon the Table?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

Sir, the despatch of Sir Henry Bulwer' dated the Pith of June was not included in the Correspondence published last summer because, like Sir Theophilus Shepstone's account of his interview with Cetewayo, referred to the other day by the hon. Member for Gateshead (Mr. James), it was not only marked "confidential," but dealt mainly with the question of the boundary dispute, and I did not consider it desirable to publish any Papers discussing that subject until after the High Commissioner had pronounced his award. It will now be published, together with two previous despatches written in April and May last dealing with the same question.

MR. DILLWYN (for Mr. Chamberlain)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to a statement in Despatch No. 92ª, dated October 17th, 1878, in which it is stated— All the information that has hitherto reached them (the Government) with respect to the position of affairs in Zululand appears to them to justify a confident hope that by the exercise of prudence and by mooting the Zulus in a spirit of forbearance and reasonable compromise it will be possible to avert the very serious evil of a war with Cetcwayo; And, whether the information above referred to has been published in the papers laid before Parliament; and, if not, whether there would be any objection to produce it?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

Sir, the word "information" quoted by the hon. Member included all those general means of forming a conclusion, in addition to official communications, which were at the command of the Government; but so far as it referred to communications from persons holding official positions they have been published in the Papers laid before Parliament.