§ MR. LABOUCHERE () NorthamptonI beg to ask the Under Secretary 204 of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a telegram in The Times of the 20th July, from Capetown, in which it is stated that the commanders of an Impi of Lo Bengula, having marched into Matabele, became insolent, and were given one hour to retire, and that when they refused to do so 38 horsemen chased them, killing over 30 of them; whether Matabele is a portion of the territory over which Lo Bengula is Monarch or Chief; by what authority 30 men of the Impi were slain for refusing to withdraw and being insolent to the employés or colonists of a Company that derives its sole right to exercise any sort of jurisdiction in Matabele from Lo Bengula; whether the Company has any jurisdiction over the armed forces of Lo Bengula; and what steps Her Majesty's Government contemplate taking to prevent such proceedings, resulting in loss of life, and tending to lead Lo Bengula to take retaliatory action?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR the COLONIES (Mr. S. BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarThe latest information we have on the subject is contained in the telegram from Sir H. Loch, which appears in today's papers. Prom this it appears that the Matabele Impi were fired on because, having burnt many kraals and killed many natives, they refused to return to the other side of the demarcation line agreed on with Lo Bengula. The British South Africa Company have under their Charter powers of administration in Mashonaland and the right to raise armed forces for the preservation of peace. This authority is derived, not from Lo Bengula, but from the Charter granted by the Queen. A large amount of discretion must necessarily be left to those in authority on the spot; and it is to be hoped that the greatest possible forbearance and discretion will be exercised in dealing with the native tribes.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREWas not the Charter given by the Queen because of the concessions granted by Lo Bengula; and, secondly, is it now considered that Lo Bengula, who gave the concessions, has lost all paramount rule in the country in question, and that the Chartered Company have got a right to drive out and slaughter any troops of 205 Lo Bengula that may he sent to punish the Mashonas?
§ MR. S. BUXTONMy hon. Friend has asked me several conundrums. Some of them are rather difficult to answer. The position is this—Lo Bengula gave certain concessions of mineral rights and land rights to the different Companies, which afterwards became the South Africa Company, who informed the late Government that they had these rights and concessions; and, under these circumstances, the Charter was given to them enabling; them to administer the country under the Charter, and to raise police and other forces for the preservation of the peace. So far as Lo Bengula's concessions are concerned they are not in reference to administration, but to native lauds and mineral rights.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI shall be obliged to enlighten my hon. Friend on the Vote on Account.
§ COMMANDER BETHELL () York, E.R., HoldernessIs it not the case that all the British South Africa Company have been doing is to defend the natives dwelling in their own portion of the country from the attacks of other natives?