§ MR. YERBURGH (Chester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Unyoro forms an integral part of Uganda; whether geographically the Lakes Districts (which include Uganda, Unyoro, Ankoli, and Toru) form one country, bounded on two sides by the frontiers of the Congo State and German East Africa, and on the remaining sides by the Victoria Lake and the Victoria Nile, and that Uganda, Unyoro, Ankoli, and Toru formerly 690 made part of the Kingdom of Kitura; whether the Arab slave raiders, driven out of Uganda, have been received by Kaba Rega, King of Unyoro; that Kaba Rega, on the abandonment of the forts constructed by Captain Lugard, invaded Toru, and re-enslaved the people; that, by the energetic action of the Congo State, the slave raiders on their eastern frontier are being driven into Unyoro; whether he is aware that it is stated by all authorities that Unyoro forms a centre of intrigue which will be a constant source of difficulty to the British administration in Uganda; and whether, in view of the pledges given by the British Government at the Brussels Conference that they would effectively administer the territory for which they are responsible, especially in relation to the Slave Trade, the Government will reconsider their determination not to undertake the administration of Unyoro?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickThe answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. Some, if not all, of the countries named in the second paragraph have at one time or another paid tribute to Uganda; but they have not in recent years formed one country. An Empire called Kittara is said to have existed in former times, but (if it did exist) has long since been divided into independent States. For the character and actions of Kaba Rega, and the consequences of his aggressive action, I must refer the hon. Member to answers already given in the House, especially to those given on the 20th of March, and on the 4th and 5th instants; and in answer to the last paragraph, I have to say that the Government have already announced that the British Representative in Uganda will be instructed to maintain such Agreements with the chiefs of the neighbouring countries as are necessary for preserving friendly relations, for the control of the Slave Trade, and for affording facilities to commerce.
§ MR. YERBURGHCan the hon. Baronet answer that part of the question which refers to the Lakes Districts forming one country geographically?
§ *SIR E. GREYI do not know what "geographically one country" means. In one sense, the whole of Africa is one country.
§ MR. YERBURGHAm I correct in assuming that the boundaries mentioned are the boundaries of the Lakes Districts?
§ *SIR E. GREYI do not know that the Lakes Districts have ever been defined. All we know of these districts is that they are divided into certain different States. The hon. Member has named several of those States quite correctly, and some of them, if not all, have at one time or another paid tribute to Uganda, but they cannot be said, in the ordinary sense of the word, to have formed one country in recent times.