§ MR. O'KELLYasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government has information showing that many white men openly instigated Zibebu to attack Cetewayo; whether a Mr. Calenbrander, a well-known agent of Zibebu, was allowed to organize an armed party of white men in Natal, and lead them into Zululand under the pretence of hunting; whether Sir Henry Bulwer refused this pretended hunting party permission to purchase 2,000 rounds of ammunition, but afterwards granted them permission to take 1,000 cartridges into Zululand; whether his attention has been called to an article which appeared in the "Natal Times" of April 11th, published at Maritzburg, showing that the interference of white men was already organized; whether any precautions were taken to prevent the invasion of Zululand by white adventurers, and to preserve the peace between the Chiefs; and, whether, in view of the results of the policy adopted by the Government of dividing Zululand into a number of independent divisions, Her Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of allowing the Zulu nation to be reconstituted under one King in order to put an end to the existing anarchy?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I will answer the Question by referring to the paragraphs contained in it; and with regard to the first three, I find no official information on the point to which they refer, and no answer can be given except a 1850 general answer, which is to the effect indicated more or less in the Question itself—that is to say, that there is no doubt that Europeans have been mixed up in these affairs, and have rather stimulated them in certain cases. With regard to the fourth paragraph, there is a statement of the kind that the hon. Gentleman indicates. With respect to the fifth paragraph, it is not possible for Her Majesty's Government to prevent the intervention of White men carried on, not in a military way, nor with any external signs of organization, but by their passing individually into the country. That we are not able to stop. With regard to the last paragraph, though I fully recognize the excellent intention with which it is conceived, I confess that it is our impression that although we might be very glad to see Zululand perfectly united, and, therefore, should readily allow the Zulu Nation to be reconstituted, yet it is probable that any premature action on our part in the selection of a particular person might only be a cause of additional discord and division.
§ MR. O'KELLYfurther asked, whether Her Majesty's Government would take the same steps to prevent White adventurers from bringing arms and ammunition into the country as they had done to prevent the Zulus from obtaining arms?
MR. GLADSTONEI am not sufficiently cognizant of the facts; and I could not, without reference to my hon. Friend the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, undertake to say what are the supplies of arms carried into Zululand at present, and by what method they are introduced.