HC Deb 02 May 1881 vol 260 cc1545-6
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he can state the present position of the Basuto affair, and say—whether the Cape Government distinctly accepted the arbitration of Sir H. Robinson and bound themselves to abide by any award which he might give; whether when the Basutos were required to lay down their arms before arbitration, it was merely intended that they should cease from armed opposition, or they were called on actually to surrender their arms; and, how the arbitration is to be conducted now that Sir H. Robinson has gone to the Transvaal?

SIR WILFRID LAWSON

had also given Notice of his intention to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether the Government are able to communicate to the House any authentic information concerning the recent negotiations between Sir Hercules Robinson and the Basuto Chiefs?

MR. GRANT DUFF

I will, with the permission of the House, answer my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy and my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle together. In reply to the first specific Question of the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy, I have to say "Yes." In reply to the second, I have to say that the words were used in the ordinary sense—namely, that the Basutos were to cease from hostilities. In reply to the third, I have to say that, as the award has been given, the difficulty cannot arise. My best reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle will be to read the telegrams which have been received from Sir Hercules Robinson— April 29.—The following is a summary of the terms which I have awarded in the Basuto case:—First, disarmament, tempered by a system of registration, and an annual licence fee of £1 for each gun; second, compensation to be paid by tribe to loyal people and traders for destruction of property; third, the tribe to pay a fine of 5,000 head of cattle for taking up arms against the Government; fourth, these terms being complied with, there shall be a complete amnesty, and no confiscation of territory. Sir Hercules Robinson adds that he thinks these terms just, and most generous. The other telegram is as follows:— April 30.—Ministers have adopted my award, and assumed the responsibility for it in Parliament.