MR. LAWRENCEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, having regard to the disastrous results to humanity and trade that followed on our retirement from Coomassie without leaving there a British Resident, Her Majesty's Government will in any present negotiations with the inland tribes at Lagos provide for the acceptance by them of Residents in the towns of Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Jebu Ode, by which the interminable native wars may be put an end to, and the trade routes kept permanently open?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSIn answer to the question of the hon. Member, I have to say it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to come to any decision as to the future arrangements to be made with respect to the places named until they have received and considered the Reports which may be expected from the Governor on the recent operations and their results. The hon. Member may, however, be assured that the matter will receive most careful and serious attention, and that in its consideration the object of Her Majesty's Government will be to adopt the best means for putting an end to the native wars and keeping the trade routes permanently open. I may add that a telegram has been to-day received from the Governor reporting his return to Lagos with the greater part of the expeditionary force, a strong detachment having, however, been left at Jebu Ode, where it will remain till matters are settled.