HC Deb 18 March 1890 vol 342 cc1141-3
MR. LABOUCHERE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has seen the following statement in the Diamond Fields Advertiser— The Queen's Envoys are conveying a letter from Her Majesty's Government to Lobengula announcing that Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to grant a Royal Charter for the development of the interior, and asking him to give it and the Rudd Concession, on which it is based, all the assistance in his power; whether this is correct; and, if so, should Lobengula withdraw or amend the Rudd Concession he is to be constrained into giving full effect to it, and restrained from giving any further concessions which may conflict with it; whether he is aware that Colonel Carrington is actually engaged in recruiting men for the service of the chartered company, and that the inducement held out to men to join this force is that, in addition to their pay, they will receive "claims" to dig for gold, or shares in companies established to dig for gold, and civil appointments in Matabeleland under the company; whether, in the event of this force coming into collision with Lobengula, any aid is expected from Her Majesty's Government to either party; whether he is aware that the one million sterling, which by the terms of the Royal Charter has to be subscribed within one year of its being granted, has already been syndicated, and that the right to apply for the £1 shares of the contemplated issue has been sold for £4 per share, thus showing that a present of the value of £3,000,000 has been made to the gentlemen to whom the Royal Charter has been granted; whether, in view of this fact, he will consider the expediency of throwing upon these gentlemen and their nominees a portion of the Imperial expenditure in South Africa; and whether he will in future put up to public competition all Royal Charters which it is intended to grant?

BARON H. DE WORMS

A letter has been sent to Lobengula as stated. I have repeatedly explained that the Rudd Concession is one only of numerous concessions which have been brought together under the Royal Charter. There is no reason to suppose that Lobengula would attempt to withdraw or amend any such concession, or to issue further concessions conflicting with it, and any declaration as to the steps to be taken in such case would be premature. Colonel Sir F. Carrington has been permitted to assist in organising the British South Africa Company's Police Force. Her Majesty's Government do not know whether the question correctly describes the inducements offered to recruits. Her Majesty's Government have been informed by telegraph that Lobengula has sanctioned the occupation of Mashonaland by the British South Africa Company. No collision with Lobengula is therefore anticipated, and Her Majesty's Government cannot state what they would do in the hypothetical ease stated in the question. We have no knowledge of the details of the company's finance, except that some time ago £750,000 of the share capital had been subscribed. The company has already expended very large sums on railway and telegraph construction, and on police. This relief of Imperial expenditure has been among the principal reasons for granting the Charter. The reply to the last paragraph of the question is, certainly not.

DR. CLAKK (Caithness)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Colonel Carrington's advertisement is headed "O.H.M.S.," and is an officer on Her Majesty's Service to be allowed to recruit men for a filibustering company?

BARON H. DE WORMS

I cannot admit that it is a filibustering company. Colonel Carrington has been authorised by the Government to inspect the police about to be employed by the company, in order to maintain order in the new territory.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Is Colonel Carrington not paid for this service by the Government?

BARON H. DE WORMS

Certainly he is paid by the Government.