§ SIR C. W. DILKEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to recent statements showing the extent to which the Oil Rivers Protectorate and the Niger Chartered Company depend upon a revenue from the sale to Natives of firearms and of liquor; and how far the state of things revealed is consistent with the engagements entered into with reference to Africa between Her Majesty's Government and the Governments of other Powers?
§ SIR E. GREYThe sale of fire-arms and spirits is regulated by stringent regulations, in accordance with the provisions of the Brussels Act. That Act only permits the sale to natives of flint-lock, unrifled guns, and trade powder. It provides for the control of the spirit trade, but absolute prohibition is only enjoined in countries where the use of distilled liquors does not exist, or has not been developed. The Niger Company has taken advantage of this provision to prohibit the import altogether into the Mahometan countries above the confluence of the Benue. As regards both territories, the duties are even higher than are required by our engagements under the Brussels Act, in fact they are kept as high as can safely be done, without developing a large smuggling trade from neighbouring possessions of other Powers.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman had any information as to firearms passing through the Niger territory?
§ SIR E. GREYEvery Power has complaints of arms reaching others through its territory; but I cannot at this moment give any information with regard to this particular country.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEAre the accounts of the Niger Company laid before Parliament, and, if so, under what title can they be found? I have looked in the Library for them, and cannot find them.
§ SIR E. GREYI will inquire whether any accounts have been laid before Parliament.