§ MR. BRYCEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the rumours which have appeared in the public prints regarding Treaties or arrangements with Native Chiefs in the interior of Tropical Africa, alleged to have been recently made on behalf of Her Majesty or of any British Company; and whether he is now in a position to give the House any information upon this subject?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONIt is understood that Mr. Stanley made certain engagements on his own behalf with Native Chiefs in the interior of Africa, but they were not made under any authority from Her Majesty's Government. I am not in a position to make any statement regarding them.