HC Deb 28 May 1894 vol 24 cc1415-6
MR. J. A. PEASE

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Secretary of State has recommended the Secretary of State for the Colonies (in accordance with Sir F. Plunkett's Despatch of the 12th of May to M. van Eetrelde) to give facilities for recruitment under suitable conditions in the British Colonies on the West Coast of Africa; will he explain why His Majesty King Leopold II. cannot be expected to raise the recruits in his own Free State; and whether provision will be made that recruits in no case shall be either hired slaves or other than entirely free men?

* SIR E. GREY

I can give no information as to whether it is easy or not to obtain recruits in the Congo State. No special instructions have yet been considered as to facilities for recruiting in the British West African Colonies, but I must point out to the hon. Member that there are no slaves in British Colonies.

MR. J. A. PEASE

Is it not without precedent for a foreign Power to recruit in a British colony?

SIR G. BADEN-POWELL

If any British subjects were enlisted, would not the stipulations of the Foreign Enlistments Act become operative?

* SIR E. GREY

I cannot answer these questions without notice. I can only repeat that no special instructions have yet been considered.