§ MR. DILLWYN (Swansea, Town)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, in the recent changes which have taken place in the Government of the Niger, sufficient steps were taken to secure the assent of the natives to the now arrangements; whether he will lay upon the Table of the House evidence to show that the natives were parties to the establishment of the authority of the Royal Niger Company; and, whether he has any information to show whether the late disturbances were due in any way to the natives resenting the imposition by the Company of heavy taxes, to which they were not accustomed?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N. E.)The Charter to the Royal Niger Company was granted after most mature consideration. There is abundant evidence as to the general assent of the Natives, over 230 Treaties having been concluded with the Company. It is not proposed to lay upon the Table these Treaties, which, indeed, would be misleading, as they contained clauses giving exclusive rights which have become inoperative under the Charter. Reports show that the recent disturbances arose from robberies by a Native Chief, and not from the imposition of taxes.