§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any official confirmation has been received of 413 the telegraphic despatch published on Monday by the Central News; whether the construction of a line of forts extending from Kihiro to Uganda, so as to entirely separate the lower half of Unyoro from the upper, is within the scope of the instructions under which Her Majesty's officers are acting in Uganda; whether the construction of this line of forts is consistent with the exclusion of Unyoro from the area of the British Protectorate; and whether the expedition of Major Owen to Wadelai, the hoisting of a British flag there, the conclusion of a Treaty with the Sheikh there, and the five engagements which it is stated were fought with the enemy, are in accordance with any instructions given to Her Majesty's officers in Uganda by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and, if not, what action it is contemplated to take in the matter?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickInformation to the same effect has been received. Operations against Unyoro could only be justified in so far as they were necessary for the protection of Uganda in consequence of the aggressive attitude of Kaba Rega himself. The construction of the line of forts appears to have been a part of the military operations for defence against the Wanyoro and does not affect the decision of Her Majesty's Government as to the limits of the Protectorate. Colonel Colvile, being aware that Her Majesty's Government desired to obtain information as to the state of affairs at Wadelai, took advantage of the expedition to Unyoro to send Major Owen with a small escort by water. He met with no opposition at Wadelai, and he fought no engagements on the way there or back, although he appears to have been fired upon by some natives on the banks. As the hon. Member is aware, Wadelai is within the territory leased to the King of the Belgians, and will therefore be outside the limits of our action during the continuance of the Agreement.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREAre these forts in the territory of Kaba Rega to be occupied by British troops?
§ SIR E. GREYNo instructions were sent to undertake operations in Unyoro, but they were rendered necessary by the aggressive action of Kaba Rega himself. 414 The construction of these forts appears to have been judged necessary by the people on the spot. Therefore, although the construction of the forts could not affect the intentions of the Government with respect to the future of Uganda, I cannot call in question the decision taken in this matter by those on the spot.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREWhat is to become of these forts which are outside Uganda? Are they to be garrisoned or to be handed over to Kaba Rega?
§ SIR E. GREYThe Commissioner sent to Uganda will have to consider what measures are necessary to maintain friendly relations with the neighbouring countries, to prevent the Slave Trade, and to promote British trade and commerce. In the circumstances, I think it ought to be left to the Commissioner to decide after his arrival whether these forts shall remain or not.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREWill the matter really be left to the judgment of the Commissioner as to whether forts are to be maintained on territory outside the British Protectorate?
§ SIR E. GREYAs yet we do not fully know what the position of affairs in Unyoro is. The Commissioner will be instructed, as I said last Friday and repeated just now, to maintain friendly relations with the people in Unyoro. The point referred to by the hon. Member must, I think, be left to his decision.