HL Deb 04 July 1879 vol 247 cc1404-6
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information with reference to overtures of peace' reported to have been made by Cetywayo; and, if so, whether he could state if Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford were in possession of such instructions as would enable them to conclude terms of peace?

EARL CADOGAN

said that, so far as the Government could judge, no actual or definite overtures of peace had been made by Cetywayo. The latest intelligence they had received on the subject was contained in a telegram forwarded by Lord Chelmsford to Sir Bartle Frere on the 6th of June, a copy of which was received at the Colonial Office on Thursday, which, with the permission of their Lordships, he would read. It had been forwarded in a despatch from Sir Bartle Frere, dated June 9, and was in these terms— From Lord Chelmsford to Sir Bartle Frere, June 6. Cetywayo's messengers left to-day with following message:— 'He must at once give proof of being in earnest in desiring peace. Proof to be—

  1. "'1. Two 7-pounder guns and the oxen now with him, taken from us, to be sent in with the ambassadors.
  2. "' 2. A promise from Cetywayo that all the arms taken during war, &c., when collected, shall be given up.
  3. "' 3. One regiment to come to my camp, and lay down its arms as a sign of submission.'
Pending Cetywayo's answer, there will be no military operations on our part. When he has complied with them, I will order cessation of hostilities, pending discussion of final terms of peace. With regard to the second Question put by his noble Friend—namely, whether Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford were in possession of Instructions which would enable them to conclude terms of peace—he could only repeat the answer ho gave to a similar Question a few weeks ago. It was that the despatch of the 20th of March, written by the Secretary of State, contained in the earlier paragraphs a statement of the basis upon which peace was to be negotiated, and that it concluded with the expression of a desire that Sir Bartle Frere would not commit himself to any decided step, or commit us to any positive conclusion in respect of these questions until he had received Instructions from Her Majesty's Government. He also stated, on the same occasion, that he understood the purport of that despatch to be that Sir Bartle Frere would be en- titled to commence negotiations for peace, but not to conclude them without first consulting the Government. That view was shared by his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who wrote the despatch, and he hoped that it would be considered as borne out by the telegram which he had just read.

Before he sat down, he might mention that a telegram received to-day stated that the Orontes arrived at Madeira at 6 o'clock that morning.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, that with regard to the last Question—as to the Instructions given to the Commander-in-Chief and Sir Bartle Frere—he thought the noble Earl stated on the occasion to which he had referred that it would be impossible for Her Majesty's Government to give Instructions to Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford at that time, because they were waiting for a reply from Sir Bartle Frere.

EARL CADOGAN

Further Instructions.

EARL GRANVILLE

Further Instructions, if they should appear to be necessary. He pointed out at the time the inconvenience which, he thought, might arise, and the noble Earl was good enough to refer to the Papers. Whether that inconvenience had arisen he did not know.

EARL CADOGAN

reminded the noble Earl that in the passage to which he referred the words " as far as possible " occurred.

EARL GRANVILLE

asked if there was a despatch?

EARL CADOGAN

said, there was a despatch accompanying the telegram he had just read.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

presumed that the despatch to which the noble Earl now alluded did not refer to the despatch of the 20th of March. Had Sir Bartle Frere yet sent an answer to the despatch of the 20th of March?

EARL CADOGAN

No; simple acknowledgment of receipt.

LORD TRURO

asked, whether it was true, as reported in the public journals, that Cetywayo had asked definitely whether the people would be allowed to gather in their crops?

EARL CADOGAN

said, he had already given the House all the information the Colonial Office had received on the subject of Cetywayo's requests.

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