§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the South Africa Chartered Company have put forward a number of regulations in regard to the action of Europeans now in Manica; whether, in view of the fact that the so-called concession from Mutassa has not been confirmed by Her Majesty's Government, and that the Charter of the Company expressly forbids the Company to exercise power under any concession that has not received this confirmation, he will take steps to make it known that these regulations are not binding on anyone; whether the House may count upon 202 being placed in possession of all correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government in regard to Manica before anything is done by Her Majesty's Government by which the territorial question will be prejudiced; and whether, on any interviews taking place between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Rhodes, or between the Colonial Secretary and Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Rhodes is acting as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, or as a gentleman financially concerned in the success of the South Africa Chartered Company?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSON1. We have no information as to any regulations issued by the South Africa Company. 2. Her Majesty's Government are not yet in a position to deal with the question of the concession said to have been granted by Mutassa. 3. The correspondence between Her Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government will be published in due course. 4. Mr. Rhodes is Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, as well as a Director of the South Africa Company. He acts in both capacities.
§ SIR HORACE DAVEY (Stockton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the event of the British South Africa Chartered Company obtaining Manicaland, care will be taken in the arrangements now being negotiated between Her Majesty's Government and Portugal, that British companies which have paid for and hold concessions from the Mozambique Company, whether before or after the date of the British South Africa Company's Charter, will be recognised, preserved, and respected?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Government cannot be responsible for financial arrangements made between different Companies, but acquired British interests will receive every consideration in the negotiations with Portugal.