§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he could see his way to appoint a Resident Inspector in each of the territories of the great Chartered Companies in Africa?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. J. W. LOWTHER,) Cumberland, PenrithThe appointment of a Resident Inspector in each of the territories of the Chartered Companies would entail a heavy expenditure. A residence, staff, and independent means of locomotion would have to be pro- 47 vided for. These requirements in uncivilised countries would represent large sums of money, out of proportion to the advantages likely to be derived from their, presence. There are at present Government officials stationed in the neighbourhood of all the territories referred to, through whom local investigations could be conducted if required, and to whom complaints could be made if desired.