§ MR. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, prior to the imposition of the Sierra Leone hut tax, Bai Bureh protested against it, and warned the British authorities that if persisted in it might provoke a native outbreak; whether, upon the occurrence of the outbreak, Bai Bureh gave a safe conduct to the British subjects within his territory, and escorted them out of the disturbed area; whether he repudiated the murder of Mr. Humphrey, and with his own hands executed the murderer; whether the native atrocities that were committed during the outbreak were in the Mendi territory, and not in Bai Bureh's territory; whether in the past Bai Bureh has been a steady ally of the British, and has rendered us valuable services against slave raiders; and whether, before the expedition against him was organised, Bai Bureh requested a safe conduct to Freetown, in order to plead his cause before Her Majesty's Special Commissioner; and, if so, why his request was ignored, and could he state the cost of the expedition incurred?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I cannot undertake to answer questions respecting the recent insurrection in Sierra Leone until Sir D. Chalmers' official Report has been considered. Meanwhile, however, no decision will be come to as to the ease of Bai Bureh.
§ MR. HEDDERWICKMay I ask when the right honourable Gentleman expects to have the Report?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESThe Special Commissioner has completed his report—there will be no delay in presenting it after the Governor's observations have been received. The Governor, to whom I have sent a copy of the Report, is about to come home on leave, so that there may be some little delay. I do not think I shall be able to present it for about six weeks or two months.