§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the statement is correct that Earl Grey, the Administrator of the Chartered Company at Bulawayo, was jointly responsible with Sir F. Carrington for declining the offer of armed assistance from the Cape Government; whether the Imperial Government had taken over the sole responsibility for the maintemance of peace and order in Rhodesia before the present rebellion broke out; whether the forces now in Rhodesia are adequate to cope with the rebellion, or to prevent it from spreading over the whole country; and, whether Sir Frederick Carrington, in refusing reinforcements of either 541 Imperial or Colonial troops, is acting on his own independent judgment, or is guided by the wishes and necessities of the Chartered Company?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINSir F. Carrington is solely responsible for advice to her Majesty's Government in regard to the forces required to put down the rebellion. Earl Grey has expressed his concurrence with Sir P. Carrington's opinion. The answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative. In answer to a similar Question I have already stated that both Sir Frederick Carrington and General Goodenough are of opinion that further reinforcements are not required at present, but they have been informed that her Majesty's Government are prepared to send any forces that they may consider necessary. Sir F. Carrington is no doubt acting on his own judgment.
§ MR. MACLEANasked whether the strength of the force required to put down the rebellion would not be limited by the power of the Chartered Company to pay the bill?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; certainly not.
MR. AENOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)asked if the Government had taken over the military and civil administration?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; only the military administration.