§ SIR G. CAMPBELLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government are yet prepared to lay upon the Table Major Macdonald's Report on West Africa, or the most important portions of it; or, if not, would he explain on what grounds; and whether, since Major Macdonald's future functions as Her Majesty's Commissioner are to be confined to the Oil River's territory, it will be the function of any officer of the Imperial Government to report on the transactions in the Niger Company's sphere, and to inform Her Majesty's Government and Parliament whether the conditions in regard to the avoidance of monopoly, equal treatment of Natives, and other matters, are fulfilled, and to ascertain that neither British subjects nor Foreign Powers have ground for such complaints as have previously been made?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONIt has been repeatedly stated that Major Macdonald's Report was for the confidential information of the Government, and not for 1210 publication. It is not considered necessary' to maintain a salaried officer permanently in the Niger territories; but, with a staff of Government officials in the immediate neighbourhood. Her Majesty's Government will have at any time the means for impartial local investigation if it should be required.