§ MR. SUMMERSI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the report in the Lagos Weekly Record for 23rd January of the interview with the Jebu deputation, in which it is stated that the Governor used the following language:—
His Excellency knew that there was war in the interior; but the roads should be opened first, and afterwards he would see alter the rest. That if they did not open the roads, and would not do so, he would coerce them into doing it, and that the matter of the war in the interior did not concern the Jebus";834 whether Mr. Carter was authorised to use this threat of coercion, and whether his action in doing so has received the sanction of Her Majesty's Government?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSThe Governor acted under instructions from Her Majesty's Government, which were to the effect that he was to intimate to the King of Jebu that if he refused compliance with the demands made, the Governor had orders to take such measures as might be necessary to enforce them. The correspondence will be found among the Papers when presented to Parliament.
§ MR. SUMMERSCan the right hon. Gentleman say when these Papers will be published?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSI must give the same answer I have given before—Papers will be laid on the Table as soon as possible consistently with the public interest.