§ MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary 1545 of State for the Colonies whether it is the fact that, by an Order in Council, the Governor of Bechuanaland has been empowered to proclaim the Queen's jurisdiction over the territory lying to the north of Bechuanaland, west of the Transvaal and Matabeleland, east of the German Protectorate, and south of the Zambesi; whether this means the annexation of the Bechuana Protectorate; whether this territory is in future to be administered as a Crown Colony; and whether, in this event, the Crown will respect the rights of those who have obtained concessions from the Chiefs?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe answer to my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. If he will refer to the Foreign Jurisdiction Acts he will see that he has misapprehended the effect of the Order in Council. The Queen has certain powers and jurisdiction within the territories named, and the Order empowers the Governor of British Bechuanaland to give effect to those powers and jurisdiction by means of legislative proclamations. The primary object of this proceeding is to provide proper means of enforcing discipline in the Police Force.