§ "Major Owen, one of the officers who accompanied the recent expedition under Colonel Colville against Kabarega, Chief of Unyoro, has arrived at Mombasa, having left Uganda on March 24. He reports that the operations undertaken in Unyoro against Kabarega have been brilliantly successful. Kabarega himself has been driven out of Unyoro, and a line of forts has been established from the Albert Nyanza, along the south-western bank of which Kabarega's kingdom is situated, to Uganda. Major Owen also went to the north end of Lake Albert and down the Nile to Wadelai, where he planted the British flag. The Soudanese troops behaved splendidly and the Waganda auxiliaries were thoroughly loyal. All the members of the Administration were well when Major Owen left Uganda.—Renter"
§ SIR C. W. DILKEPerhaps it would be convenient to ask another question at the same time. Some time ago I gave notice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that I would ask him when he would fix a day for the discussion of the Uganda Vote—
§ LORD R. CHURCHILLLet my question be answered.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEIf the noble Lord prefers it, I will put my question afterwards.
§ SIR E. GREYI received notice from the noble Lord that he was going to ask this question but a few moments ago. I can only inform him that no information has been received at the Foreign Office confirming the telegram.
§ LORD R. CHURCHILLMay I ask whether, if any information is received, the hon. Baronet will communicate it to the House?
§ SIR E. GREYI believe it is a rule never to make any promises with regard to information until it is received. Of 488 course, if it can be communicated to the House, it will be in answer to a question.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, having regard to his repeated promise of an early opportunity, he will be able to name a day for the discussion of the Uganda Vote?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI think my right hon. Friend knows why it is that I have not been able to answer that question before. I have really been driven out of all my calculation of days. I have always said that we must have before Whitsuntide the Second Reading of the Registration Bill and the Second Reading of the Budget Bill. Now I understand that the discussion on the Second Reading of the Budget Bill is not to close till Thursday. ["Oh, oh !"and "Hear, hear !"from the Opposition.] That I understand to be the case. Then, I have also been informed that it would not be for the general convenience of the House, if that were so, that the House should be asked to meet on Friday morning. Certainly my own experience is that we do not get very much good out of such a Sitting, and I am perfectly willing to meet the convenience of the House in that matter. If the House were to wish that the Adjournment should be moved on Thursday, we will take that course, or to ask that the House should meet on Friday morning. I am perfectly willing to collect the opinion of the House on the matter. With reference to the matter to which the noble Lord's question refers, it is clearly of great importance, before we discuss the Uganda question, that we should know how that matter stands. No official information has come to hand yet, and any that does come would have a most important bearing. Therefore, I should imagine that for all these reasons it would not be for the general convenience to take the Uganda discussion on Friday morning.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEMay we understand that an early and suitable opportunity will be given for a Debate on the Uganda Vote?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)I am much obliged to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for his expression of desire to meet the views of the House. The reasons given against a Sitting on Friday are so valid that I should suggest that the best course would be to suspend 489 the Twelve o'Clock Rule on Thursday, not, of course, with a view to a late Sitting, but in order to ensure the termination of the Debate. The Motion for the Adjournment might be put down as the second Order, and be taken after the Budget Debate is disposed of.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI shall be glad to take that course.
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the serious character of the news from Zanzibar, he will use his influence to induce the Foreign Office to telegraph to the Consul at that place in order to ascertain whether the report was well founded or not? I may also ask the right hon. Gentleman to induce the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs to distribute maps among Members showing the frontiers of the territory called officially Uganda. I do not myself know what Uganda is.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI think there are already maps available in the Tea Room.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREThere is a map in the Tea Room, but it does not indicate at all precisely what the frontiers of Uganda are.
§ SIR W. HARCOURT:I will see what can be done in the matter. I can assure the hon. Member that I will use my influence, such as it is, and I shall be especially glad to exert it upon himself.