§ SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I wish to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to save a Debate and Division late to-night, he can make any statement with regard to the Supplementary Vote of £80,000 which is being asked for Uganda and British Central Africa? I understand that the Uganda Vote has already been explained, but that for British Central Africa has not been explained.
§ SIR E. GREYThe right hon. Baronet is quite right when he says that it was contemplated that this Uganda Vote should be included in the previous discussion, and there is no new feature in connection with it. The Vote has nothing to do with the provision of a railway, and the amount could not be included on the previous occasion because matters were not sufficiently far advanced. With regard to the second Vote, the fact is this, that the British Central Africa Protectorate has not yet cost this country any money; but it has lately been necessary to undertake very considerable operations against the Slave Trade and the Arabs who are prosecuting it in that particular district. Those operations have been exceedingly successful, and their beneficial results have already become apparent in the protectorate. They have cost a good deal of money, and it is that extra expense which renders so large a Vote necessary. I should say, in addition, that the Vote will not be for this year only, because a protectorate of this kind must, until it pays its own way, cost the country something. The bulk of the £35,000 asked 27 for has been incurred in operations against the Slave Trade.
§ MR. BUCHANANMay we expect that in the future there will be a permanent charge on this country for the administration of Central Africa?
§ SIR E. GREYYes, the moment has arrived for that; but the charge will not be so large in future. It will not be so much as this year's Vote.