§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is contemplated to include any fresh territory in the British Protectorate on the Gold Coast; and, if so, to what extent, and on what conditions?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)Two additions have recently been made to the Gold Coast Protectorate. 1. The small territory of Krikor, a strip of land about 20 miles by six, lying to the east of the Volta, between Awoonah and Afloo; both of which were already under British protection. It was desirable to accept the offer of Krikor for administrative and fiscal reasons, and the Treaty was ratified by the late Government in June last. 2. On the North-West confines of the Protectorate, adjacent to Gaman, an independent State, the addition of the Kingdom of Sefwhi to the Protectorate was authorized by my Predecessor. The object was to secure the freedom of the roads through it, as they are important trade routes; and the necessity of securing them has been strongly urged on Her Majesty's Government by merchants interested in the Colony. The principal conditions are freedom of trade routes and cessation of slavery. No responsibility is involved of defending the country against any Native aggression.