§ MR. J. H. DALZIELdesired to ask a question of which he had given private notice. It was whether the attention of the Foreign Office had been directed to the very serious allegation of cruelty made in a telegram from Uganda published in Saturday's papers; whether it was the case that the leaders of the native tribes had protested; and what action the Foreign Office proposed to take?
§ SIR E. GREYsaid, he had seen the statement since he received notice of the hon. Member's question. The Government had not previously to that heard of anything of the kind having happened, nor had they had any confirmation of the statement in any way.
§ MR. DALZIELasked if any inquiry would be made?
§ SIR E. GREYsaid, they could not inquire without knowing the authority on which the statement was founded, but if information was given them which showed it was probable or even conceivable that anything of the kind had occurred, inquiry would be made.
§ MR. DALZIELinquired whether the hon. Gentleman could tell the House what was the position of our representative against whom the charge was made?
§ SIR E. GREYunderstood from the statement he saw that the charge was made against a British official. Colonel Colvile, who was in charge at the time, would soon be home, and inquiry would 1275 be made of him if information was forthcoming.