HC Deb 27 January 1891 vol 349 cc1141-3
MR. LABOUCHERE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, inasmuch as certain concessions led Her Majesty's Government to assent to a Charter being granted to the South Africa Company, he has been made aware that these concessions do not belong to that Company, but to another Company which has a capital of £4,000,000, representing one-half of the value of these concessions, and that the Chartered Company is merely a lessee of the aforesaid Company, receiving one-half of the net income derived from the concessions in consideration of bearing all the expenses involved in the obligations that the Chartered Company has undertaken in consideration of obtaining the Charter, and whether Her Majesty's Government was aware that this arrangement was to be made when the Charter was granted; whether he will take steps to see that no undue influence is exercised by the Company on Lobengula to induce him to cede land to the Company in addition to the mining rights hitherto granted; whether his attention has been called to the seizure on the part of the Company of Manica, which is claimed by Portugal, and to the imprisonment and deportation of Portuguese residing in Manica by the Company; whether there is any limit laid down in regard to the area over which the Chartered Company has acquired rights in consequence of its Charter; and, if not, whether such limit will at once be laid down; whether his attention has been called to Clauses 3 and 4 of the Charter granted to the Company, by which it is prohibited from exercising any act of sovereignty or powers of government in relation to any treaty or concession, until a copy of such concession, grant, or treaty, with maps and particulars, have been submitted to the Secretary of State, and he has signified his approval thereof either absolutely or subject to any conditions or reservations; and whether the so-called Treaty with Mutassa in respect to the concessions granted to the company by that chief in respect to Manica has been submitted to the Secretary of State, and he has signified his approval of it; and, if not, what action it is contemplated to take against the Company for infringing its Charter, by exercising acts of sovereignty and powers of government in Manica under a so-called concession from Mutassa?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East Toxteth

In answer to the first question put by the hon. Member, I have to say that Her Majesty's Government was not, when the Charter was granted, and is not, aware that the facts are as stated, and is not responsible for the details of the relations between the British South Africa Company and any other Company or person holding concessions within the field of its operations. As regards the second question, Her Majesty's Government does not believe that any improper influence has been brought to bear upon Lobengula by the British South Africa Company. The answer to the third question is: Yes. In reply to the fourth question, the field of operations of the British South Africa Company has not been further defined since the Charter was issued, and no further steps in that direction will be taken while the negotiations with Portugal are pending. As regards the last two questions, Her Majesty's Government are familiar with the clauses referred to; and they are not yet in a position to consider whether, and to what extent, the Treaty with Mutassa should receive approval.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Has the Treaty with Mutasa been submitted, as stipulated by the clauses, to Her Majesty's Government?

BARON H. DE WORMS

Yes.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay it on the Table of the House?

BARON H. DE WORMS

That will be considered.

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

May I ask whether the Government have received information that the Charter alleged to have been granted by Portugal to the Zambesi Company contain provisions hostile to British interests; and whether, having regard to the fact that the British South Africa Company have secured a concession in the Manica Company and the neighbouring territory for a modus vivendi, the Government will recognise such concession as the basis of further negotiation?

MR. SPEAKER

Order! The hon. Member had better, give notice of that question.

MR. CONYBEARE

I will put it tomorrow.

SIR G. CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)

Are we to understand that the Government exercise no control over the concessions and Sub-leases granted by the Chartered Company?

BARON H. DE WORMS

No; the hon. Gentleman is not to understand that.