HC Deb 28 April 1892 vol 3 cc1570-2
SIR W. HARCOURT (Derby)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the following statements in the Standard, of 26th April, 1892:— Zanzibar, Monday.—Further reports from Uganda confirm the main details of the fighting there, as I telegraphed them to you last week. It would seem that for some time previous to the outbreak of hostilities, the Protestants had received large supplied of Snider rifles. Encouraged by the possession of these arms, they attacked the Catholics, but were at first repulsed, and compelled to retire on the fort. There Captain Lugard came to their assistance with his Maxim guns, and after severe fighting and heavy casualties on both sides, succeeded in dispersing the Catholics. Mr. Ashe Winton was killed. Bishop Heoth escaped to Buddov. He reports that large numbers of Catholics have been seized and sold as slaves. The Catholics and Mohammedans are massing their forces, with a view to renewing the attack on the fort. Whether Captain Lugard will be able to hold his own or not depends entirely on how long his supplies of ammunition last. Mr. Gerald Portal has left for Vitu. And in the Times, of 26th April, 1892— Berlin.—Herr Oscar Borchert, who is at present on the march to the Victoria Nyanza, has been commissioned by the Emperor to give presents to the King of Uganda in return for the elephant tusks which the latter sent to His Majesty. As, however, Captain Lugard has found it necessary to depose King Mwanga, it is doubtful if Herr Borchert will be able to fulfil his mission"; also to the statement previously published that— Captain Lugard had been made King of Uganda in the place of King Mwanga, with whom the Treaty was made giving to the East Africa Company such rights as they possess in that territory"; whether Her Majesty's Government have made any inquiries, and can give any information as to the condition of affairs at Uganda and the adjoining districts on the Lakes; and whether, having regard to the obligations into which they have entered in relation to the Mombasa Railway, they will communicate to the House the Reports made by Captain Lugard as to the state of the country?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. J. W. LOWTHER,) Cumberland, Penrith

My attention has been directed to the statements quoted by the right hon. Gentleman. No confirmation of them has been received at the Foreign Office, neither has any information corroborating them been received by the British East Africa Company. The agents of the Company have been instructed to telegraph any authentic information which they may receive. The latest information sent by Mr. Portal was contained in a letter addressed to him by Bishop Tucker. It only spoke of the usual difficulties between the rival parties at Uganda. This news was dated the 8th December, and was subsequent to the somewhat sensational reports from the French missionaries. In private letters received by the East Africa Company complaints are made of undue favour towards the Roman Catholic party shown by the Company's officers. There is every reason to suppose that Captain Lugard has avoided showing the least partiality to either side. Mr. Portal is paying a short visit to Vitu, but his visit thither is not connected with the alleged disturbances at Uganda.

SIR W. HARCOURT

Will the hon. Gentleman answer my question as to whether he has any reason to suppose that Mwanga has been deposed, as stated in the news from Berlin; and also whether he can say what is the latest information that the Government or the East Africa Company has received from Uganda?

* MR. J. W. LOWTHER

Well, Sir. I am not quite certain of the exact date of the latest information received by the Company, but it is contained, I believe, in the lengthy Report from Captain Lugard which arrived in this country, I think about the close of last year. It was in continuation of the Report which the right hon. Gentleman had before him at the beginning of this Session. With regard to the first supplementary question of the right hon. Gentleman, we have had no information as to the alleged deposition of Mwanga; and we have had no confirmation of the telegram which appeared in the Times from Berlin.

SIR W. HARCOURT

May I ask whether the Government will lay upon the Table the Report of Captain Lugard, which the hon. Gentleman has referred to as having arrived here at the end of last year? Will that Report be laid upon the Table, so that the House may know what is the latest authentic information with reference to the state of things in that country?

* MR. J. W. LOWTHER

Yes, Sir. I think, when answering a question put by the hon. Member for Northampton some time ago, I said that these Reports were made to the British East Africa Company, but that, with their permission, we should lay them upon the Table of this House. They are now, I believe, in course of being prepared and printed; and they will be laid upon the Table of the House, in conjunction with other Papers which the hon. Member for Northampton asked for, shortly after the conclusion of the Debate on the Mombasa Railway.