§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, and if so when, Dr. Jameson has had a recent official interview with certain Indunas of Matabeleland in regard to the political settlement of that country; whether any Report of it has been received, or is expected, at the Colonial Office; and whether any statement was made thereat by Dr. Jameson that the Matabele would be expected to render service to any settlers in the country, either paid or unpaid, and especially in connection with the development of the mining industry which it is suggested may arise?
§ MR. S. BUXTONWe have received no official Report of the interview to which I presume my hon. Friend refers. Two Press reports that I have seen of the interview contained no suggestion that 409 Dr. Jameson informed the natives that they must labour without pay.
§ MR. J. E. ELLISHow is it that the Colonial Office seems always so late with the information which we can obtain from other sources?
§ MR. S. BUXTONWhen we get information we usually communicate it to the newspapers. Of course, I cannot say where they get their earlier reports from.
§ MR. J. E. ELLISI am not alluding to matters appearing in the newspapers, but to information obtained elsewhere.