§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any steps have been taken to provide a suitable military force for the 1360 relief of Her Majesty's subjects in Mashonaland should occasion arise?
§ MR. S. BUXTONI must refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave 3Testerday, and I have, at present, nothing further to add.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTThe hon. Gentleman has misconceived, I think, the object of my question, which is whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any steps to provide a suitable military force in Mashonaland in case the necessity should arise? If he is unable to answer, I will put it to the Secretary of State for War.
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe answer I gave yesterday to an almost identical question was to the effect that the responsibility for the maintenance of peace, law, and order in Mashonaland rests upon the British South Africa Company. They are prepared, as we understand from Sir H. Loch, through Mr. Rhodes, to carry out their obligations under their Charter. They ask for no help, and no help has been offered them. And the position at the present moment is this—there are no impis raiding in that part of Mashonaland in which the British South Africa Company have their active operations, and we hope that there will be no necessity for any further action on the part of the Company at the present moment. At all events, Her Majesty's Government under, the Charter, are entitled to object to any aggressive action on the part of the Company. That position we have taken up and shall maintain.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI understand the hon. Member to say that, in the opinion of the Queen's Government, the Chartered Company are responsible for the protection of British subjects in Mashonaland?
§ MR. S. BUXTONYes.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTThen the question I should like to ask either the hon. Member or the Prime Minister is this—Are we to understand that the British Government repudiate any share in the duty of protecting the considerable number of British subjects now in Mashonaland, and who may at any moment be subject to grievous danger?
§ *MR. S. BUXTONI have already said that the responsibility for the protection of the British colonists in 1361 Mashonaland rests upon the British South Africa Company. We understand that Mr. Rhodes, as representing the Company, has informed Sir H. Loch that they are in a position to protect the people under their charge. All the action we have taken in the matter is that Her Majesty's Government have stated that they have power under the Charter to interfere in any quarrels between the Company and the Chiefs, and will not allow any aggressive action on the part of the Company without their first obtaining the sanction of the Government.
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)Has the hon. Gentleman seen a letter in The Times of this morning from the Bishop of Derry, in which the perilous condition of the British subjects in Mashonaland was pointed out?
§ MR. S. BUXTONMy attention has not been drawn to the letter referred to by the hon. Member, but I will take care to read it.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister whether the House is to understand that the Government of which he is the head repudiate all responsibility for the safety of British colonists in Mashonaland?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE, Edinburgh, Midlothian)I think it would be better that I should communicate with my noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies before I answer that question.