§ MR. BAUMANN (Camberwell, Peckham)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that Sir Sidney Shippard has recently been in the Bechuanaland Protectorate trying to persuade certain chiefs to grant the British South Africa Company rights and facilities of constructing a telegraph line, which are inconsistent with the concessions already granted by those chiefs; whether it is part of the duty of the Administrator of Bechuanaland to act as the agent for the British South Africa Company; whether this conduct is held to be 926 compatible with Clause 2 of the charter which provides
That nothing herein contained shall prejudice or affect any other valid or subsisting concessions or agreements which may have been made by any of the chiefs or tribes;and whether the Secretary of State will sec that the rights of concessionaires are respected by the company, in accordance with the terms of its charter?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OK STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Baron H. de WORMS,) Liverpool, East ToxtethThe construction of the telegraph line in question was under consideration by Her Majesty's Government in the early part of last year as a Government work, but it was arranged that its construction should be undertaken by the British South Africa Company. The line is practically a Government concern, and, as it is essential to the policy of Her Majesty's Government, it will be carried on with or without the chiefs' consent. Sir S. Shippard has recently been in the Protectorate with the view of obtaining their willing assent to the work, and it is not anticipated that they will ultimately oppose it. As regards the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs of the question, the duties of the Administrator in relation to the company are prescribed in Clause 30 of the charter. His recent conduct is not inconsistent with Clause 2 of the charter. In answer to the last paragraph, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government intend to give effect to the terms of the charter.