§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether over 10,000 Zulus have perished in civil war since the restoration of Cetewayo; whether the Boers have invaded Zululand, and annexed more than 3,000,000 acres of the most fertile portion of that Country; whether Usibepu, a chief friendly to England, has been driven from the territory assigned to him by Sir Garnet Wolseley, and his people massacred and ruined; and, whether, in view of such great suffering and the destructive warfare that still continues, the time has come for the British Ministry to restore peace to Zululand?
MR. GLADSTONEI will simply answer the Question by saying that it is not the opinion of the Colonial Department with regard to the two first heads of this Question that the statements of the hon. Gentleman can be verified; they look upon them as going very far indeed beyond the facts. That is as to the two first heads. As regards Usibepu, there is no doubt that he has been driven from his dominions; but with respect to the causes of his having been so driven, this constitutes a matter of controversy upon which we are not prepared at the present time to give a positive opinion. With regard to the last Question, I can only say that the attention of the Government is being directed to the condition of Zululand with the view of considering the question whether at any time their obligations of honour or policy are involved in an interference. The moment they see that the time for such interference has arrived they will deem it 1728 their duty to make it known to the House; but, of course, the hon. Member will see that they cannot arrive at such a decision at the instance of any hon. Member. Fresh information arrives from time to time that may tend to throw fresh light upon the facts, and it will then be our duty to consider as well as we can what decision we ought to arrive at.
§ MR. ASHMEAD - BARTLETTI understand the right hon. Gentleman to traverse the statements contained in my Question that 10,000 Zulus have perished since the restoration of Cetewayo, and that the Boers have recently annexed or divided among themselves 3,000,000 acres of the most fertile portion of that country. I beg, therefore, to give Notice that on the first opportunity that offers I shall bring proof of these facts before the House.
MR. GLADSTONEPerhaps I ought to say with regard to the first of these Questions—whether the Boers have annexed 3,000,000 acres—I am not disposed, according to the information we possess, to question the statement made by the hon. Gentleman; but the question that arises is as to the manner in which the land was acquired. We shall not be able to admit the contention of the hon. Member as to the means of acquisition of the land. The figure I cannot admit is the number of 10,000 Zulus alleged to have been killed.