HC Deb 21 March 1893 vol 10 cc675-6
COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state approximately how many Catholics were killed and wounded in the civil war in Uganda, and also if the British commissioned officers were present and took part in the engagements when the Catholics were killed; and what was the estimated value of the buildings and stores belonging to the Catholic Party which were destroyed or burned?

SIR E. GREY

We have no information on the subject to communicate beyond that contained in Captain Lngard's Report, which has already been given to the House.

COLONEL NOLAN

That is a dubious answer. It may be that the hon. Baronet has information and refuses to give it, or that he has no information.

SIR E. GREY

I am not aware of any information that I could give. We had no Representative in Uganda at that time.

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

In view of the suffering and loss which have been inflicted upon Catholics in Uganda, I wish to ask whether we may confidently take it as the desire of the Government that there shall be complete religious toleration in that country, as far as Great Britain is concerned?

SIR E. GREY

It is the desire of the Government to secure complete religious toleration and equality of treatment in Uganda, and the Commissioner in Uganda will use every effort in his power to secure those objects.

MR. JOHNSTON

Are those not exactly the principles of the Orange organisation?

MR. T. M. HEALY

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of adding the hon. Member for South Belfast to the staff of Sir Gerald Portal?

[No answers were given.]

COLONEL NOLAN

I beg to ask whether any European or American country, in addition to Germany, has agreed to Uganda being included within the British sphere of influence?

SIR E. GREY

Italy has also recognised this sphere of influence, and there is no risk of a conflict of claims as regards Uganda with any other Power.