HC Deb 19 May 1887 vol 315 cc508-9
MR. W. REDMOND (Fermanagh, N.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he will state whether the Zulu people have given their sanction to the annexation of their territory to the British Empire; and, whether information has reached him that the Cape Colonists are very much averse to the extension of the British Possessions in South Africa?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)

The first Question has been, I think, sufficiently answered by my replies to the hon. Member for Caithness (Dr. Clark) to-day, and to the hon. Baronet the Member for Evesham (Sir Richard Temple) on the 17th. With regard to the second Question, my reply is that, so far as Zululand is concerned, the Cape Government and people have for a long time desired that, in the interests of peace and public safety in South Africa, Zululand should be brought under the Queen's Sovereignty; and Her Majesty's Government have no reason to believe that there is any body of opinion in South Africa averse to the recent extension of the British Possessions. I may call the attention of the hon. Member to a speech made on Tuesday by Mr. Robinson, the Natal Delegate to the Colonial Conference, and a man of high intelligence and political experience. He expressed his belief that the Proclamation of the annexation of Zululand will be hailed with great satisfaction both by the European and Native populations of South Africa.

MR. W. REDMOND

said, he wanted to know, were any steps taken to ascertain what the views of the people of Zululand were with regard to the annexation?

SIR HENRY HOLLAND

replied that some time ago, in answer to a Question, he stated that he had been informed that the Zulus themselves had asked us to come in and protect them from the Boers. He also said he had telegraphed for information when it was decided to take further steps, and that Mr. Osborne and Sir Arthur Havelock informed the Colonial Office that the majority, inclusive of the people and the Chiefs, would gladly accede; that the people would be specially glad of British rule; and that that was the opinion of the Chiefs and those skilled in the government and knowledge of the people.

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

What is the date of that telegram?

SIR HENRY HOLLAND

That telegram I have already read? It is dated the 13th, and was received on the 14th February last.