SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL&c) (Kirkcaldy,I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for India on whose account, at whose expense, and on what title Zeylah, Bulbar, and Berbera are occupied by British troops; whether the natives, who are represented as raiders, have ever recognised the British occupation, or have openly resisted it; whether the late expedition was ordered to carry on a war of punishment by the destruction of wells and private property; and, if so, whether those orders were given by the Indian or the British Authorities.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Sir J. GORST,) ChathamThe circumstances and conditions under which the Somali Coast was occupied by British troops will be found in detail in Parliamentary Return, Egypt, 14th, of 1885. In reply to the second paragraph of the hon. Member's question, the natives have recognised the British occupation, though that had nothing to do with the expedition. Bulbar, on which the raid was made, is not in their territory. In answer to the last paragraph of the question I may say that the expedition was punitive. It was ordered by the Government of India. No instructions for the destruction of wells and private property were given.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLThen am I to understand the right hon. Gentleman to tell us that where the destruction of property occurred the expense will be paid by the Government?
§ SIR J. GORSTI have no information that any private property was destroyed. If the hon. Gentleman believes that there was he had better give notice of a further question.