MR. HUBERT BUNCOMBE (Cumberland, Egremont)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any reason to suppose that the ammunition used by the warriors of the Matabele has been supplied to them 1034 by British subjects or by subjects of any Foreign Power; if not, by whom it was supplied; and whether any person supplying arms or ammunition to the enemy would be liable to summary execution, as in the case of Mr. Stokes?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THECOLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)Inquiries are being made on the spot as to how the rebels have obtained their supplies of arms and ammunition, but no information has yet reached me which would be worth communicating to the House. If any person is shown to have supplied them with arms and ammunition since they broke into rebellion, he will be dealt according to the facts and the law applicable to his case.
§ MR. H. C. STEPHENS (Middlesex, Hornsey)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can say if the description of the killing of the M'Limo is substantially true; and, if so, in order to avoid provoking reprisals, he will use his influence so that in the future restraint shall be exercised to prevent such incidents. The description to which I refer was in the Daily Graphic of yesterday?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI did not know before to what description the hon. Member alluded. The newspaper descriptions which I have seen tally generally with the official report, which is not of a character to lead me to think that there is any ground for my interference. I may add that there is still some uncertainty as to whether this gentleman has been killed. [Laughter.]