§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his notice has been drawn to a letter which has appeared in The Cape Times from one of the Border Police, in which it is stated that this force gets no pay but fights under the conditions that each man is to get a 3,000 morgen farm, 15 mining claims, and five alluvial claims, with a share in the loot; whether his attention has been called to a Circular issued by Mr. R. Williams, of the firm of Messrs. Robert Williams and Co., 10, St. Helen's Place, E.C., inviting subscriptions to a Syndicate with a view to the acquisition of licences and rights from the volunteers who have assisted, or are assisting, in the present Matabele War, in which it is stated that the said Mr. Robert Williams has already entered into a provisional arrangement with members of the Bechuanaland Border Police and other volunteers for the acquisition of some 20,000 acres of laud, as well as of their licences or rights; whether any such distribution of land and mining rights amongst those who have been engaged in warlike operations against the Matabele has been or will be permitted by Her Majesty's Government; and whether any steps are being taken to prevent this distribution?
§ MR. S. BUXTONI have seen the letter referred to in the first paragraph of this question. The writer, as I under- 1378 stand, is a member of the Chartered Company's Police, and not of the Bechuanaland Border Police, which is a Government force. My attention has been called to the Circular referred to in the second paragraph of the question. I cannot understand the allegation that a provisional arrangement of the nature stated has been entered into so far as the Bechanaland Police are concerned; inasmuch as the members of that force, being in Government pay, would not be allowed to accept grants from the Chartered Company for their services. The answer to the third and fourth paragraphs of the question is that, as far as we are aware, nothing has been clone in regard to the distribution of land and mining rights in Matabeleland, and that, as already stated, no action taken on the spot would or will prejudice the ultimate settlement of the Matabele question, and that Her Majesty's Government will not assent to any measures which they do not consider just and reasonable.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of recent telegrams from Matabeleland, whether it is to be understood that, if Lobengula docs not surrender at discretion, under a promise of safety to himself, joint action is to be taken by the Imperial and by the Chartered Company's forces to disperse his forces if they do not "clear off;" whether, if so, he can say to where these forces are expected to betake themselves; whether it is to be understood that no terms short of surrender have been offered to Lobengula, and that, if he does not accept these terms, the destruction of the Matabele is to continue; and whether the pledges given by Her Majesty to Lobengula, as set forth in the published letters of Lord Knutsford to him, that if he would confirm the mining concession to Messrs. Rudd and Company, which he disputed, he should suffer no loss of his sovereign rights over Matabeleland and Mashonaland, are to lie regarded as no longer binding either on Her Majesty's Government or on the South Africa Chartered Company, whoso rights, whatever they may be in the territories of Lobengula, are derived alone from that Monarch's assent to this concession?
§ MR. S. BUXTONTaking the first three paragraphs together, my answer is that every endeavour is being made both 1379 by the Commander of the Imperial force and by Dr. Jameson to open up friendly communication with Lobengula, with a view of bringing the hostilities to a speedy and satisfactory end. With regard to the last paragraph of the question, I have to refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him to a somewhat similar question on the 16th instant, when I said that the fact of hostilities having taken place had necessarily altered the position of affairs, and that the question had now become one of future policy in regard to the settlement of the country, which, as I said just now, must be on lines at once just and reasonable.
§ MR. LABOUCHERECan my hon. Friend say what are the terms that are now submitted to Lobengula as the conditions of peace?
§ MR. S. BUXTONI have stated more than once that Lobengula has been informed that if he will come in in order to arrange what might be the terms of peace his safe conduct will be secured, and he will be treated with all proper respect.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREDo I understand that if terms of peace are not arranged Lobengula will be allowed to go back to his forces?
§ MR. S. BUXTONHis surrender must be unconditional.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)Have the conditions offered to King Lobengula been conveyed to him by a reliable Envoy or messenger?
§ MR. S. BUXTONI understand, though I am not speaking from full information, that the conditions which I have stated were conveyed to him, and that he has sent back an answer.