§ MR. PICTON (Leicester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether any further communication has been received from Sir Henry Loch in reference to the seizure of Matabele cattle?
§ MR. S. BUXTONYes, Sir. It will be remembered that a few days ago we telegraphed to the effect that Her Majesty's Government could not acquiesce in the continued seizure of cattle from the Matabele, who had ceased to offer an effective or organised resistance. Sir H. Loch, as I told the House on Tuesday, stated in reply that he was informed that the cattle taken by the British South 1386 Africa Company were the King's and not the people's, and that their capture was the best evidence to the Matabele that the King had been beaten, as cattle are the symbol of a Chief's authority. On the receipt of this telegram we replied to Sir H. Loch that experience in former native wars shows that the distinction between King's cattle and people's cattle may be ambiguous, all cattle being in a sense King's cattle; that, as he had been already informed, Her Majesty's Government deem it essential to secure to the Matabele ample cattle for their requirements, and that it is, therefore, necessary that sufficient cattle should be held in trust, out of any that may have been seized, to secure the attainment of this object. He added that if it should be necessary, for the reason mentioned in Sir H. Loch's telegram, to continue for a time the capture of cattle, the animals so seized should be retained for disposal ultimately in accordance with the final settlement.
§ MR. PICTONWhile the cattle are held in trust, will they be available as food for the Matabele who may be hungry?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThese particular cattle are not necessary for their immediate requirements. They are the large herds which are kept in the country, and it is with reference to these particularly that I am speaking.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c)Can the hon. Member confirm or deny the telegrams from Buluwayo in the morning papers with reference to the dangerous position of Captain Wilson's force?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe Government have received a telegram from Sir Henry Loch which practically confirms the intelligence in the morning papers. He is awaiting further information, as he is not quite certain as to the accuracy of the account.