§ SIR R. REID (Dumfries Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the protests of the four Governments of the Cape, Natal, the Orange Free State, and the Transvaal, and the disapproval of Sir Alfred Milner, endorsed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, some Natives of South Africa have been brought over for exhibition at the show called "Savage South Africa"; and whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies can do anything to prevent the continuance of this part of the exhibition?
MR. T. BAYLEYalso had the following Question on the Paper (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that 50 Zulu men have been brought to London front South Africa to be exhibited at a show called "Savage South Africa"; that these men had been led to believe that they were to be employed at the Kimberley Mines in Cape Colony, and that passes had been given to them to travel to those mines and that a number of 1303 Native women have been obtained for the same show by means of advertisements which appeared in the British South African newspapers, stating that various wild horned animals, and also young Afrikander girls (good looking, and to Le slightly coloured), were wanted for the exhibition; whether the Governments of all the British Colonies and Dutch States in South Africa protested against the exportation of these Natives on the grounds of morality and of the interests both of the Natives themselves and their good government by these Colonies and States; whether he is aware that certain directors or officials of the Chartered Company have aided in the exportation of these Natives under the above circumstances; whether, seeing that this exhibition is to be opened on Monday next under illustrious patronage, the above facts have been brought to the notice of the personage concerned; and whether the Government Will now take any steps to procure the return of these Natives to their own country?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)My attention has been called to the fact that 50 Zulus have been brought to London from South Africa, to be exhibited at a show called "Savage South Africa." I understand that passes were given to them to travel to the Kimberley Mines, but I am not informed whether they were led to believe that they were to be employed in the mines. I do not know whether Native women have also been brought ever for the smite slum. The Government of the British Colonies and the Dutch Republics in South Africa objected to the exportation of Natives for the above purpose on the ground stated. A director of the British South Africa Company is understood to have taken part in promoting the scheme before the opposition of the High Commissioner was known. The Administrator at Bulawayo, on being informed of the objection of the High Commissioner, refused to sanction the proposal to convey Matabeles to England. Her Majesty's Government have no power to compel the return of the Natives to South Africa. 1304 I can only express my regret and disapproval of their introduction. I had not observed that the show was to be opened by the Duke of Cambridge, but I now propose to communicate with his Royal Highness immediately on the subject.