Commons Sitting of 19 March 1901

PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.

  BRITISH WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY BILL.
  Order [25th February], That the Bill be referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, read, and discharged.
  Bill withdrawn.

  STANDING ORDERS.
  Resolutions reported from the Committee:

  1."That, in the case of the London County Council (Tramways and Street Widenings) Petition, the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with: That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, provided that the powers to construct Tramways Nos. 2. 4, 5. 7. 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9. 10, 10A, 11, 11A, and 11B be struck out of the Bill: That the Committee on the Bill do report how far such Order has been complied with."

  2."That, in the case of the Brompton and Piccadilly Circus Railway Bill [ Lords the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with: That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, provided that Railways Nos. 2,3,4,5,6,. and 7 be struck out of the Bill: That the Committee on the Bill do report how far such Order has been complied with."

  3."That, in the case of the Chester Corporation Tramways Bill [Lords], the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with: That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, provided that Tramways Nos. 1. 2, and 3. and so much of Tramway No. 6 as lies beyond the City boundary, be struck out of the Bill: That the Committee on the Bill do report how far such Order has been complied with."

  4."That, in the case of the South Lancashire Tramways Bill [Lords], the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with: That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, provided that the powers to construct Tramways Nos. 7 and 8 be struck out of the Bill: That the Committee on the Bill do report how far such Order has been complied with."

  5."That, in the case of the Wigan Corporation Tramways Bill [Lords], the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with: That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, provided that Tramway No. 2 be struck out of the Bill: That the Committee on the Bill do report how far such Order has been complied with.

  6."That, in the case of the Thames Piers and River Service Bill, Petition of the 'Watermen and Lightermen of the

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  River Thames' for dispensing with Standing Order 129 in the case of their Petition against the Bill, the said Standing Order ought to be dispensed with."

  7."That, in the case of the Barry Railway Company, Petition for leave to deposit a Petition for Bill, the Standing Orders ought to be dispensed with: That the parties be permitted to deposit their Petition for a Bill."

  Resolutions agreed to.

  LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (TRAMWAYS AND STREET WIDENTNGS).
  Report [this day] from the Select Committee on Standing Orders read.
  Bill ordered to he brought in by Mr. John Burns and Mr. Lough.

  SELECTION.
  Mr. HALSEYreported from the Committee of Selection, That they had selected Mr. Baird to be a member of the Parliamentary Panel of Members of this House to act as Commissioners in pursuance of the provisions of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, in the place of Sir Charles Dalrymple.
  Report to lie upon the Table.

PETITIONS.
  BEER BILL.
  Petitions in favour, from Leighton: Liverpool; and Coates; to lie upon the Table.
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (HIGHER GRADE AND EVENING CONTINUATION SCHOOLS).
  Petitions for alteration of Law, from Scarborough; Barnsley; land National Union of Teachers; to lie upon the Table.
  LICENSING (SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS).
  Petitions for alteration of Law, from Warbleton; and Midhurst; to lie upon the Table.
  LIQUOR TRAFFIC LOCAL VETO (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  Petition from Duniper Green, in favour: to lie upon the Table.
  PARLIAMENTARY FRANCHISE.
  Petitions for extension to women, from Manchester; Birmingham and other places; and Women Workers in the Cotton Factories of Lancashire: to lie upon the Table.

  POOR LAW OFFICERS' SUPERANNUATION ACT, 1896.
  Petition from Isle of Wight, against alteration of Law; to lie upon the Table.
  Petitions for alteration of Law, from Erith; and Thorn hill; to lie upon the Table.

  SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON SUNDAY BILL.
  Petitions in favour, from Redhill;. and Guildford; to lie upon the Table.

  SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS TO CHILDREN BILL.
  Petitions in favour, from Sheffield (forty-one); East Renfrewshire (two); Mossley; Bainbridge; North Shields;: Bampton; Birmingham (eleven); Hands-worth; Inverness (eleven); Sparkhill; Droylsden; Tiverton; Goole; South London; Plymouth; (three); Kings-wood; Tottenham; Redditch; Edinburgh (eleven); Burslem; London (four); Glasgow (twelve); Chorley; Upper Holloway; Frant; Manchester (two); Liverpool (eighteen); Rotherham;: Knighton; Motherwell (three); Eastbourne; Ealing Dean; Margate; Shrewsbury; West Kensington; Blooms-bury; Walworth (two); Ticehurst; Kennington (two); Brixton Hill; Chernside West; Heaton Mersey; York;. Leeds (thirteen); Tiverton-on-Avon;. Camberwell (three); Peckham (two);, Stratford; West Ham; Ashurst;. Brighton; Chailey (two); North Taw-ton (two); Torry; Birkenhead (three);. Lewes (two); Withington (three); Clapham (three); Elgin; Bishops Stortford (three); Leytonstone (twelve); Forest Gate; Bath; Harrow Green; Pollokshaws; Winchester; Bristol (seven); Llandyssiliogogo (two); Wheatley Hill (two); Cilfynydd; Penzance;

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  Cardigan; Littlehampton; Farnham; Ecclesall; Kenton; Salisbury; Falkirk (two); Clynder Rosneath: Newquay; Wylye; St. Ives (four): Woodhouse Hill"; Elland; Hanwell; Rastrick; Abernethy; Gloucetser (two); Lanark (two); Brockley; Lambeth: Wilmslow: Woodford Green; Muirhead: Penpont; Garston (two); Mile End; Portswood: Harrow; Penycae; Lockerbie; Lewis-ham; Pudsey Valley; Hohn: Dalkeith; Bradford; Stockport: Dartford; Ashwater; Llanfyllin (four); Grantown-on-Spey; Old Machar; Ivybridge; Peterhead; Sparkbrook (two); North Kensington; Deptford (two): Worcester: Wilmslow; Pagham; Tranent; Brad-ford-on-Avon; Corsham (two); Bathgate; Kilburn; Machynlleth; Oldham; Finsbury; Bradford (Yorks.) (five); Great Lumley; Queen's Park,; Huntingdon; Croydon (eighteen); Maldon; West Croydon (three); South Norwood (two); Woodside; Thornton Heath (three); Norwood; Upper Norwood (four); Upper Caterham; Staly-bridge; Maidenhead; Reach: Baildon; Lee; Market Lavington; South Petherton; Taunton (three); Dublin; Wishaw; School Board for London; Staines; Tockwith; Cambridge; Fulbourn; Leicester (fourteen); East Lambeth; Chesterton; Bridgwater (two); Sack-more; Exford; Brixton (two): Altrincham; Clitheroe; Cubitt Town; Tenby Derby; Grifithstown; Washford; Rugby; Banff; Dunfermline; Hare-court; Bridlington; Morley (three); Watchet; Old Kent Road; Wolverhampton (two); Rushden; Waterhouses (two); Penrhyn; Durham (three): Delton: Wellington; Willenhall; Short Heath; New Brancepeth (five); Tudhoe Colliery (three); Highworth; Aberdeen (two); Seaford; Brandon Colliery; Ripley; Middleton (eight); Thirsk; Barwick-in-Elmet; Nicklefield; Uddingstone; Stockwell; Cottingley; South Nuffield; Red Hill (three); Greenock (two) Mil-torn; Ossett (two); Shotts; Milton; St. Just; Scarborough (three); Higham; Criccieth; Watford; Knaresborough (two); Pateley Bridge; Cilcain; Lennen Cramlington Colliery (two); North Seaton; Winchester; Chesterfield (five); Norton; Appledore (two); Penrith; Sheerness (two); Langwarthby; Newbiggin; Stainton; Wigton; (two): Kes-
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  wick; Anfield; Newmains; Malvern (two); Northumberland; Great Malvern; Llanllwchaiarn (two); Gulval; Hey moor; Tregavra; Long Rock; Penzance (ten); Mousehole; Marazion; New Mill: Melksham; Ysbytty Ifan; Deiniolen: Hipperholme; Marple (two); Hyde Town; Brimingtou (three); Whittington Moor; Ryton-on-Tyne; Birtley: Royton (three); Oldham; Leith: Brampton; Aberchirder; Nymps-field: Stroud (three); Nailsworth; Heanor (two): Stonehouse; Charfield; Barnsley (four); Woodchester; Dolwyddelan; Radeliffe (three); Halton Lea Gate: Cromhall; Cotlessie; New burgh; Farnworth (twelve); Llandudno (two); Kensal Town: Kirkdale; Penmaenmawr (nine): Dwygyfylchi (two); Houghton le-Spring; Tavistock; Dewsbury; Milnrow (two): Denton; Sandiacre (three); Batley: Whitefield; Long Eaton; Hols-worthy (two); Frodsham; Edmonton; Dulwich; Kidderminster (three); Ilkeston (two); Partick; Haltwhistle; Darlington; Droylsden; Bolton (four); Swindon; Langley Moor (two); Brandon, Colliery (three); Esh Winning; Stonehaven: Upholland; Ormskirk; and Browney Colliery; to lie upon the Table.

  SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS TO CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  Petitions in favour, from Ayr (four); Stonehaven; Saltoun; Campbeltown (two): Govan (two); Perth (three);: Harthill: Bowmore; Sanquhar; Newburgh; Wick; Edinburgh (three); Ceres: Craigneuk; Motherwell; Airdrie Kilbrandon and Kilchattan; Dalziel (two); Cupar; Rothes; Dunfermline;: Forres: Strathaven; Dunbar; Carluke (two): Broughty Ferry; Douglas; Ecclefechan (two); Kirriemuir; Thorn-hill; Dalkeith; Peterhead; Marnoch (two): Thurso: Bathgate; Eastwood; Glasgow (three); Stornoway; Largs (two); Renton; Cromarty (three); Brae-mar; Kelso; Peebles (three); Saltcoats;: Helensburgh: Morebattle; Fraserburgh; Stonehaven; Alloa; Rutherglen; Dalmuir; Blairgowrie; Clydebank; Dunfermline; Dennistown; Lanarkshire; Caldercruix (two); Shotts; Ardessier; Blantyre; Tain (two); Fountainbridge; Partick; and Dunoon; to lie upon the Table.
  SOVEREIGN'S OATH ON ACCESSION BILL.
  Petition from Inverkeithing, against; to lie upon the Table.
  SUNDAY CLOSING (WALES) ACT (1881) AMENDMENT BILL.
  Petition from Cilfynydd, in favour; to lie upon the Table.
  VIVISECTION.
  Petition from Bristol, for prohibition; to lie upon the Table.
RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.
  SUPERANNUATION ACT, 1884.
  Copy presented, of Treasury Minute, dated 14th March, 1901, declaring that William C. Hoskins, Labourer, Royal Laboratory, War Department, was appointed without a Civil Service Certificate through inadvertence on the part of the Head of his Department [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
  FACTORY AND WORKSHOP (USE OF LEAD IN THE MANUFACTURE OF POTTERY).
  Copy presented, of Reports received by the Secretary of State for the Home Department from Professor T. E. Thorpe, C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., Principal of the Government Laboratory, on the Use of Lead in the Manufacture of Pottery [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  SOUTH AFRICA.
  Copy presented, of Papers relating to negotiations between Commandant Louis Botha and Lord Kitchener [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.

  REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE (ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND).
  Return ordered, "showing, for the year ended the 31st day of March, 1901, (1) the amount contributed by England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, to the Revenue collected by Imperial officers; (2) the expenditure on English, Scottish, and Irish services met out of such Revenue; and (3) the balances of Revenue contributed by England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, which are available for Imperial Expenditure (in
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  continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 336, of Session 1900)."—(M r. Lough.)

  IMPERIAL REVENUE (COLLECTION AND EXPENDITURE) (GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND).
  Return ordered, "relating to Imperial Revenue (Collection and Expenditure) (Great Britain and Ireland) for the year ending the 31st day of March, 1901 (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 337, of Session 1 900)."—(Mr. Lough.)
  WEXFORD COUNTY COUNCIL v. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.
  Return ordered, "giving the Report of the Judgment delivered in the Irish Court of Appeal on Monday the 25th day of February last, together with the Affidavits on both sides, and the Letter of the Local Government Board referred to in the said Judgment with the Reply of the County Wexford County Council thereto."—(Sir Thomas Esmonde.)
  LEAD POISONING.
  Address for "Return showing, with reference to the cases of Lead Poisoning reported during the years 1899 and 1900, in the earthenware and china industry (a) the severity of the attack, (b) the number (if any) of previous attacks, and (c) the main symptoms referable to Lead Poisoning."—(Mr. Jesse (Collings.)
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
  QUESTIONS.

    SOUTH AFRICAN WAR—PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WITH BOER GENERALS.
    MR. SCHWANN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now make a statement as to the present position of the pourparlers which it is alleged have been or are being conducted with General Botha, General De Wet, and possibly other generals, with reference to a cessation of active hostilities, as regards all or certain portions of the forces still opposing the British arms in South Africa.
    The following questions also appeared on the Paper:—
    MR. SCHWANN: To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can now give

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    the result of the negotiations, reported to have been established with General Botha and other generals in South Africa, with reference to the cessation of active hostilities between all or certain portions of the forces still opposing the British arms in that country.
    SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to give the House information as to the recent peace negotiations with the Boer generals.
    THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,: General Botha has informed Lord Kitchener by letter that he is not disposed to recommend the terms of peace, which Lord Kitchener was instructed to offer him, to the earnest consideration of his Government. He adds that his Government and his chief officers entirely agree with his views. I propose to lay the Papers connected with the negotiations on the Table to-night.
    MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: Can the right hon. Gentleman say what were the terms offered?
    MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: The hon. Member will find them in the Papers which I propose to lay.

    HOSPITALS COMMISSION—PAYMENTS TO COMMISSIONERS.
    MR. DALZIEL: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the amount of salary paid respectively to members of the Hospital Commission in addition to the amount allowed for personal expenses.
    THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,: A sum of £1,250 was paid to each member of the Commission except the chairman.
    MR. DALZIEL: Do we understand that he was unpaid?
    MR. A. J. BALFOUR: Yes.

    NEW ARMY PENSION SCHEME.
    MR. SCHWANN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he
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    can state when the pensions which the Government have promised and sketched the details of will be declared and paid to the widows and orphans of men who have perished in South Africa in the British ranks; and will the scheme apply to the widows and children of all men who have lost their lives in action, by accident, or in consequence of wounds or disease caused by service in the campaign.
    *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,): The date will shortly be fixed by warrant. As regards the second paragraph, the scheme will apply to the widows and children of men on the married establishment—which includes mobilised Reservists, embodied Militiamen, Volunteers and Yeomen—who since October, 1899, have been killed in action, or died of wounds or injuries received, or of disease medically certified as contracted or commencing while on active service.

    WARM CLOTHING FOR RETURNING TROOPS.
    MR. ORR-EWING: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether be is aware that the private funds from which invalided soldiers returning home from South Africa have been supplied throughout the campaign with greatcoats and warm clothing are now exhausted, and that in consequence such soldiers are constantly returning without them; and whether he will undertake that such necessary clothing for the voyage will be supplied from Government sources.
    *MR. BRODRICK: The Clothing Regulations (paragraphs 425–430) fully pro vide for the issue of the necessary warm clothing for invalided soldiers. Under the orders of the general officer commanding at the port of embarkation general officers commanding Cape and Natal were instructed in June last to ensure compliance with these regulations. No reports have been received of men returning without proper warm clothing.
    MR. BURDETT-COUTTS: Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire how many invalided soldiers arrived by the "Simla" last week, and by the "Bavarian" a short time before, without any greatcoats?
    *MR. BRODRICK: I will certainly inquire.

    PURCHASES OF ARMY HOUSES IN CANADA.
    *MR. GILBERT PARKER (Graves-end): I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can explain why the agents of the Government, purchasing horses for the use of the Army in South Africa, have only purchased 3,738 in Canada as against 7,901 purchased in Australia, and"26,310 from the United States; and whether the Canadian Government have drawn the attention of His Majesty's Government to this matter.
    *THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,): The purchase of horses in Canada was limited by the shortness of the season and the approach of the Canadian winter, and the prices of the horses and cobs were much higher than those paid for similar animals obtained in the United States and in Australia. Some correspondence has passed respecting this matter with the Agent General for Canada.
    MR. MALCOLM: Is there any chance of remount depots being established in Canada?
    *LORD STANLEY: Yes, it is hoped to establish a remount depot in Canada. The whole subject is now under consideration.
    MR. FLYNN: Does Canada contribute anything towards the cost of the war?
    [No answer was given.]
    MR. MACDONA: In what way does the Canadian winter prevent the purchase of the horses?
    *LORD STANLEY: We cannot purchase horses in winter and send them on a tropical passage to South Africa.

    YEOMANRY TRAINING.
    MR. STOCK: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether be can state what period of
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    training will be required for Yeomanry regiments this year: whether the date of coming out will be left to the discretion of colonels of respective regiments; whether training under canvas will be compulsory; and whether recruiting is to be practically unlimited up to a strength of 500 men per regiment.
    *LORD STANLEY: As I have already explained to the House, an Army Order will shortly be published giving the necessary information.

    QUEEN VICTORIAS FUNERAL— SCOTTISH VOLUNTEERS.
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many Volunteers came to London from Scotland on the invitation of the War Office for the purpose of attending the ceremonies on the occasion of the Queen's funeral on '2nd February last; and will he say how much was paid for their travelling expenses, food, and accommodation.
    *LORD STANLEY: The numbers of Volunteers from Scotland amounted to twenty-four officers and 800 men. It is not possible to state the figures required by the second paragraph without a detailed examination of the various accounts.

    VOLUNTEER SERGEANT-MAJORS' PAY.
    MR. LOWE: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War will he explain why the sergeant-majors of consolidated battalions of Volunteers with more than six companies at headquarters receive only the same rate of pay and allowances as sergeant-majors in charge of outlying companies of administrative battalions; and whether he will consider the propriety of either granting to the former an increased rate of pay, or of granting them the same rank and pay as warrant officers sergeant-majors in the Militia.
    LORD STANLEY: Volunteer corps of six companies and upwards are entitled to a regimental acting sergeant-major, who is selected from the permanent staff by the commanding officer of the corps and receives the pay of his rank

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    and 6d. a day extra. This non-commissioned officer, whether in a consolidated or scattered battalion, is responsible for the duties of regimental sergeant-major, and his work is not confined to the particular company or companies at headquarters where he may be stationed. There is, accordingly, no reason for the differentiation of pay suggested.

    MARK IV. BULLETS REJECTED.
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many Mark IV. bullets have been broken up since the commencement of the South African campaign; and in what respect they were useless.
    LORD STANLEY: The number of Mark IV. bullets broken up since the commencement of the war is about four and a half millions. Cartridges made with these bullets were. Tinder certain conditions, found to strip in the barrel. It was therefore undesirable to make these bullets up into cartridges.

    MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS AT SHOEBURYNESS.
    MR. BARTLEY: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that no provision exists in cases of illness among officers at Shoeburyness, there being no hospital, no arrangement for nurses, and not even a single member of the Army Medical Corps: whether he is aware that this week a young officer who had served in South Africa was taken ill with double pleurisy which resulted in double pneumonia, that he was left in his own quarters, where he died, and had it not been for his parents would have had no nurse or medical appliances; that recently in consequence of an officer developing scarlet fever, the whole batch of officers in that officer's quarter had to be put under tents; and whether immediate steps will be taken to provide a suitable hospital, nurses, and appliances at Shoeburyness for officers when taken ill there.
    MR. BRODRICK: It has not been found possible to provide accommodation for hospital wards for officers at home stations except at Netley and Woolwich,
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    and in special cases at Aldershot. Officers, except when suffering from wounds or illness from active service, are only admitted to these hospitals on the recommendation of a medical board. At Shoeburyness there are two medical officers. For the ease of pneumonia one. day and one night nurse were engaged from the beginning by the medical officer and remained to the last. As regards the case of scarlet fever some young officers residing in the same corridor were very properly removed. It does not appear a hardship that they were placed under canvas.
    MR. BARTLEY: Can the right hon. Gentleman undertake that some accommodation should be provided for these severe cases, so that an officer need not die without any attention, as this young officer did?
    MR. BRODRICK: The officer in question was attended by a proper medical officer, and by a day nurse and a night nurse, and I do not admit that in the officers' quarters proper attention is not given to officers who are ill.

    SOLDIERS' PENSIONS—CASE OF PATRICK GUINAN.
    MR. REDDY: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that an application for an increase of pension was received by the Secretary, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on 26th ultimo, from Patrick Guinan, pensioner of the 55th Regiment of Foot, who had eleven years service from 1858 to 1869, of which nine years were in Africa and India; and, seeing that this man was discharged on account of debility from climatic causes, received a good conduct badge, is now in receipt of only 4d. per diem pension, and is more than sixty years of age and unable to work, whether his case will be considered with a view to an increase of his pension.
    LORD STANLEY: The application was received at Chelsea and the applicant was informed that he was receiving the full amount of pension to which he was entitled under the regulations. The man was discharged as unfit for further service owing to melancholia and this disease was not due to service,

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    but was developed by intemperance. The ease is not one for further consideration.

    NAVY—BELLEVILLE BOILERS.
    SIR CHRISTOPHER FURNESS: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the number and description of ships, now in course of construction for His Majesty's Navy, for which Belleville boilers will be retained on the ground that the work is so far advanced that any alteration of type of boiler would delay the completion of the ships; can he explain why this type of boiler is to be retained when the Boiler Committee cannot recommend it as the best adapted to the requirements of His Majesty's Navy, and definitely advise that in future ships these boilers be not fitted in any case; and will he give the total number of ships fitted with Belleville boilers, with number of engineers, artificers, and stokers on board of these ships.
    THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,: The question of what ships now in course of construction and designed to receive Belleville boilers can be furnished with other types of boilers without delay is under the careful consideration of the Admiralty, but the necessary inquiries have not yet been completed. It is not proposed to retain the Belleville boiler in ships in which other boilers of a better type can be inserted without involving serious delay. The total number of ships fitted with Belleville boilers is as follows: Twenty-six vessels in commission or ready? for commissioning, and forty in the hands of the makers. The seagoing complements of the former class are:—120 chief or other engineer officers, 263 artificers, 2,995 stoker ratings. The seagoing complements of the other ships under construction are:—246 chief or other engineer officers, 533 artificers, 6,400 stoker ratings.

    ROYAL MARINES—PENSION REGULATIONS.
    MR. REGINALD LUCAS: I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that non-commissioned officers and
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    men of the Army are allowed to continue serving after completing twenty-one years service, and thereby increasing their pensions, the Admiralty are prepared to extend the same privilege to the Royal Marines, by adopting the principle laid down in the Royal Warrant (Army) Article 1164, so as to place them on an equal footing with the Army in respect to pension.
    MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER: The question referred to by the hon. Member is at present under the consideration of the Admiralty, and the existing Regulations are being reviewed, but no decision has yet been arrived at.

    CHINA—ANOLO-RUSSIAN DISPUTE AT TIENTSIN.
    MR. JOSEPH WALTON: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information in regard to the reported seizure by Russia of land at Tientsin which is mortgaged to British bondholders.
    THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,): I have little to add to my answer of the 15th March on this subject,* pending a settlement of the immediate difference by the military authorities on the spot. Sentries on both sides remain in their previous positions, with strict orders not to assume the aggressive. No disturbance is anticipated.
    MR. JOSEPH WALTON: May I ask whether negotiations are proceeding, between the British and the Russian Governments with regard to this matter?.
    LORD G. HAMILTON: I must ask for notice of that question.
    SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House the correct version of the incident arising from the dispute as to the railway siding at Tientsin, and especially whether the British officer in command has received, instructions from His Ma-
    * See page 72.

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    jesty's Government, or from His Majesty's Minister at Peking, not to resist the seizure by Russian troops of the land necessary for the railway siding.
    LORD G. HAMILTON: No instructions of the character suggested have been issued.

    ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT AND MANCHURIA.
    MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: On behalf of the hon. Member for North Roscommon, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Anglo-German Agreement about China applies to Manchuria.
    THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount CRANBORNE): The first clause of the Anglo-German Agreement expresses the agreement of the two Powers to observe freedom of trade on the ports in the rivers and littoral of China wherever they can exercise influence. The second clause states that they will not make use of the present complication to obtain for themselves any territorial advantages in Chinese dominions, and will direct their policy towards maintaining undiminished the territorial condition of the Chinese Empire. This provision is without qualification.

    JAPAN AND CHINA — FO-KIEN.
    MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: On behalf of the hon. Member for North Roscommon, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that Japan has notified the Chinese Government that if the Manchurian Convention is signed Japan will insist on establishing a protectorate over the province of Fo-Kien.
    *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: No, Sir.

    CANTON AND HAN-KAU RAILWAY CONCESSION.
    MR. YERBURGH: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the concession for the construction of a railway from Canton to Hankau, which had been obtained by an American syndicate, has been transferred by them to the Belgian
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    syndicate which already held the concession for a railway from Peking to Hankau.
    *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: We are informed that the concession has not been transferred, and is still owned by the American company, but that the stock holders of the company have disposed of part of their holdings to the Belgian syndicate.

    ALLEGED TURKISH EXCESSES IN MACEDONIA.
    MR. JOHN ELLIS: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information His Majesty's Government have as to the correctness or otherwise of the reports that Turkish soldiery have been committing excesses at the town of Uscub, in Macedonia, and the neighbourhood thereof; and what is the nearest place to this district at which a British Consul is stationed.
    *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: According to information received from His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Uscub, an encounter is reported to have taken place in January last at Ishtib, which is situated about forty-five miles to the south-east of Uscub, between Turkish troops and certain Bulgarians, who had barricaded themselves in a house to evade a search for arms, which was being conducted by the Turkish authorities. One gendarme and two Bulgarians are said to have lost their lives. Fifteen Bulgarians were subsequently arrested at the same place, and have been since sent to Uscub. We have no evidence which justifies us in describing these proceedings as excesses committed by the Turkish soldiery. A British Vice-Consul is permanently stationed at Uscub.

    BILBAO HARBOUR—LOSS OF THE "AVLONA."
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the recent loss of the steamship "Avlona," of Glasgow, owing to the insufficient lighting of the entrance to Bilbao Harbour; and will he consider the expediency of calling the attention of the Spanish authorities to the subject.
    *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The question of calling the attention of the Spanish authorities to the subject is under consideration.

    LICENSING LEGISLATION.
    SIR JOHN LENG: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will be able to I introduce his promised measure dealing with intemperance before Easter; and whether it will apply to the whole of the United Kingdom.
    *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE, Croydon): I am afraid that the answer to the first paragraph must be in the negative. As regards the second, I do not think that one Bill can deal with the whole of the United Kingdom. The Scotch and Irish licensing laws differ considerably from the English.

    CHILD DRUNKENNESS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
    MR. FLOWER: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the number of children between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age who were arrested for drunkenness in England and Wales during the years 1899 and 1900.
    *MR. RITCHIE: I can only give the number of arrests which resulted in convictions—namely, in 1899, seventeen; twelve boys and five girls. The figures for 1900 are not yet complete.
    MR. FLOWER: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, if he can state the number of children between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age arrested for drunkenness in Scotland during the year 1900.
    *THE LORD ADVOCATE (MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY,): I regret to say that I am informed by the Prison Commissioners for Scotland that it is not possible to give the hon. Member the information he desires without reference to the police authorities, but if he will renew his question in the course of ten days I shall undertake to let him have it.
    MR. FLOWER: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state the number of children between the ages of twelve and sixteen years of age arrested for drunkenness in Ireland during the year 1900.
    THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM.): There were eight children within the limits of age mentioned convicted of drunkenness in Ireland in 1900. I am not aware how many arrests were made in that period; if my hon. friend desires information on that point it will be necessary to make local inquiries throughout Ireland, and this would occupy some little time.
    MR. JAMES LOWTHER: Is there any evidence as to the houses at which the children got the drink?
    [No answer was returned.]
    MR. EUGENE WASON: How many were boys and how many girls?
    MR. WYNDHAM: I cannot say.

    JUSTICES AND THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
    MR. JEFFREYS: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any necessity for justices of the peace, who are also Members of Parliament and have as such already taken the Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty the King, to again take this Oath at quarter sessions before acting as justices of the peace.
    *MR. RITCHIE: I have already stated that I am advised that there is no necessity for magistrates to take any oath afresh in order to be able to continue to exercise their functions.

    CONVICT BENNETT—LETTERS TO THE PRESS.
    MR. ALLHUSEN: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a letter from the murderer Bennett, published in an evening newspaper of 18th March: whether convicted felons are allowed to

    409
    communicate with the press, either directly or indirectly; and whether he will take steps to ensure that in future no prisoner, either before trial or after conviction, shall be able to communicate with the press.
    *MR. RITCHIE: Convicted prisoners are not allowed to communicate directly with the press, and such permission was in this case refused. It is impossible to prevent indirect communication.

    ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE—ENROLMENT OF BOYS FROM MERCHANT SHIPS.
    MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the number of boy sailors in merchant ships now enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve under Section 6 of the Mercantile Marine Fund Act, 1898; what amount in respect of light dues has been refunded to the owners of ships carrying boy sailors since the said Act came into force; and under what head of charge is this item brought in the Estimates.
    *THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HANBURY, Preston, for Mr. GERALD BALFOUR): The number of boy sailors enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve from the 1st April, 1899, to the l0th instant was 730. The amount paid to owners of ships as rebate of light dues in respect of boys carried during the year from 1st April, 1899, to 31st March, 1900. was £621 8s. 10d. Payment for the current year is not due until the 31st instant. This item is provided for in the Naval Estimates Vote 7 (Royal Naval Reserve) sub-head (a).

    FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE REGULATIONS AT STOWMARKET.
    MR. MALCOLM: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, having regard to the immunity from foot-and-mouth, disease enjoyed by the petty sessional division of Stow-market, he will remove the restrictions now weighing so heavily upon the farmers residing in that division.
    *MR. HANBURY: An Order was made on the 16th instant, altering the
    410
    boundaries of the Suffolk Foot-and-Mouth Disease Scheduled District, which will no longer comprise the petty sessional division of Stow market. The Order comes into operation to-morrow.

    COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LIGHTHOUSES AND SHORE.
    MR. CHARLES M'ARTHUR: I beg-to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is yet in a position to carry into effect the provision of Clause 2 (5) of the Mercantile Marine Fund Act, 1898, which requires that communications between lighthouses and the shore shall, as far as possible, be available for private messages at reasonable charges; whether the Departmental Committee appointed at the beginning of last year to consider this subject has made any report or recommendation; and whether, in the interest of passengers, sailors, shipowners, merchants, and underwriters he can hold out any hope of the establishment. in the near future, of reporting stations for passing vessels at central points on the more important trade routes such as the Fastnet, Tuskar. the Smalls, and Inistrahul.
    *MR. HANBURY (for Mr. GERALD BALFOUR): My right hon. friend regrets that he is not in a position to give a definite reply to my hon. friend's question. The subject of making electrical communication with lighthouses available for private messages has presented and still presents many serious difficulties which are engaging the attention of the Departments concerned. My hon. friend may rest assured that the matter is not being lost sight of.

    GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY— PREFERENTIAL RATES FOR FOREIGN PRODUCE.
    MR. FIELD: I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will cause inquiries to be made by the Railway Department of the Board of Trade of the Great Eastern Railway Company respecting the through rates for foreign produce; and whether he will cause to be examined the rate book at Harwich which shows the charges for land carriage of foreign and native produce, and communicate to the House the results of these inquiries.
    MR. HANBURY (for Mr. GERALD BALFOUR): No, Sir; my right hon. friend cannot make such an inquiry as that suggested. If persons are aggrieved by preferential rates for foreign goods they should adopt their legal remedy. The hon. Member is no doubt aware of Section 27 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888.

    EDUCATION—APPLICATIONS FOR RECOGNITION UNDER THE HIGHER ELEMENTARY MINUTE.
    DR. MACNAMARA: I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he can give the number of school departments on account of which application has been made to the Board of Education for recognition under the Higher Elementary Minute, and the number of such applications granted up to date.
    THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST,): Leaving out the application of the London School Board, which was for seventy-nine schools in block, some twenty-four applications have been received for the recognition of specific schools. Recognition has practically been given to a dozen schools, in some cases condi- tionally.

    BOARD SCHOOLS IN STEPNEY.
    MAJOR EVANS GORDON: I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, seeing that the site scheduled by the School Board in Arbour Square, Stepney, is directly opposite to the St. Thomas's Voluntary School, in which a number of places are available, he can explain why it has been decided to build a board school and destroy house Property on this spot.
    SIR J. GORST: So far as I am aware, it has not been decided to build a board school there.

    VACANT SCHOOL PLACES IN STEPNEY.
    MAJOR EVANS GORDON: I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee
    412
    of Council on Education whether he can give the number of board and voluntary schools in the school areas H, L, J, and K of the Tower Hamlets, and the number of school places at present required in each of these areas.
    SIR J. GORST: In Block H there are three board schools and one voluntary school, and a deficiency of 997 places; in Block L, two board schools and three voluntary schools, and a deficiency of 448 places; in Block 1, two board schools and two voluntary schools, and a deficiency of 102 places; and in Block K, one board school and one voluntary school, and no deficiency of school places.

    NEW CODE—TRAINING COLLEGE EXAMINATIONS.
    *MR. MORRELL: I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, inasmuch as a first class in a training college is awarded only on the aggregate of marks obtained after examination in a very wide series of subjects, and a large number of subjects in the training college; curriculum are not essential for teachers in primary elementary schools; and seeing that many students of superior quality as teachers are lost to the profession because, though well qualified in essentials for work in a primary elementary school, they have not secured sufficient marks in the non-essentials to make up a first class aggregate, necessary for good appointment, he would consider the propriety of so far modifying the new Code as to make a first class obtainable by proficiency in those subjects, and those only, which are essential to teachers in primary schools, at same time giving further certificates for proficiency in other subjects as may seem desirable.
    SIR.J. GORST: The Board of Education are now engaged in considering measures to encourage a variety of courses of instruction in different training colleges. Such measures would necessarily involve a corresponding variety in the scheme of examinations.

    COINAGE OF CROWN PIECES.
    MR. HOLLAND: I beg to ask Mr. Chan-

    413
    cellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the propriety of refraining from coining five shilling pieces in the new silver coinage.
    THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.): I am requested by my right hon. friend to state that, as at present advised, he does not think it advisable to discontinue the coinage of five shilling pieces.

    ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE ISLAND OF MULL.
    MR. NICOL: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he can explain why the Congested Districts Board of Scotland gave grants of £.375 and £113 towards the construction of two roads in the Island of Mull, seeing that these roads only lead to two farms and are of no use to the general public.
    MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: I am informed by the Congested Districts Board that the grants to the two roads referred to by the hon. Member were given on the recommendation of the District Committee as laid before the Board by the County Council. Both these bodies had an opportunity of considering the objections which were made to one of the roads, but adhered to their recommendations. The matter was then referred for the advice of the consulting engineer, who reported favourably, considering that the roads might form a useful part eventually of an extended scheme, and, further, give facilities for the erection of fishermen's holdings. In the circumstances, the Secretary for Scotland cannot accept the hon. Member's statement that the roads in question are of no use to the general public.

    KILMARNOCK SHERIFF COURT— ABSENT JURYMAN.
    MR. COCHRANE: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Samuel Reid, a working mason, residing at Stevenston, Ayrshire, who was cited to attend the sheriff' court at Kilmarnock on 27th July last, and failed to attend: whether he is aware that the notice was not served owing to his having been
    414
    absent from home in the course of his employment, leaving his house shut up; and as he is not a proprietor, and has no property, and his name does not appear in any roll save as a tenant, whether he is eligible as a juror; and whether, under the circumstances, the Lord Advocate can see his way to remit the fine of £6 1s. 1d. imposed, as Samuel Reid has a family of nine children, is in delicate health, and is dependent upon his wages.
    *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: I have made full inquiry into the matter brought to my notice by my hon. friend. I find it to be the fact that Samuel Reid's name is on the jury list, and that it had been placed there erroneously, as he is not qualified to act. But I also find that Reid was duly summoned and personally received the notice in ample time to have attended. It was his duty to attend; and, at least, it would have been proper for him to send explanations at the time of his failure to attend, which he did not do. He has not been treated unjustly. But in view of the man's circumstances as stated by my hon. friend, and of the fact that he was not qualified to act as a juror, I hope that an approach to Exchequer for the remission of the fine may be successful.

    SCOTTISH CONGESTED DISTRICTS— CROFTER HOLDINGS.
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if ho will state what balance was in hand on the 28th February last out of the money granted by Parliament for the purposes of the Congested Districts Board (Scotland); and will he say how much of the grant has been expended in the acquisition of land suitable for crofters and the extension of existing crofters' holdings.
    *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: I have already informed the hon. Member that particulars such as he asks for in this question will be found in the forthcoming Annual Report of the Congested Districts Board.

    HOLDINGS IN THE ISLAND OF LEWIS.
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state the acreage of lands suitable for new holdings recently

    415
    secured by the Congested Districts Board at Aignish, Gross, and Croir, Island of Lewis.
    *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: I am informed that no purchases have been as yet concluded in these districts.
    MR. WEIR: Did the right hon. Gentleman say only yesterday that purchases had been made?
    *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: No; yesterday's question was whether efforts were being made to effect purchases. I answered that in the affirmative.

    ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN SCOTTISH CONGESTED AREAS.
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland if it is the practice of the Congested Districts Board of Scotland to accept, without inquiry, the decision arrived at by the district committees in regard to outlay for the construction of roads in the congested area.
    *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: No, Sir.

    REPORT OF THE CONGESTED DISTRICTS (SCOTLAND) RILL.
    MR. WEIR: I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if arrangements will be made for the Report of the Congested Districts Board (Scotland) to be in the hands of Members before the House goes into Committee of Supply on Civil Service Estimates.
    *MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAY: The Third Report of the Congested Districts Board for Scotland will be issued as soon as possible after the 31st instant, and I will arrange that the Secretary for Scotland Vote will not be taken until it is in the hands of Members.
    MR. WEIR: Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the First Lord of the Treasury that this Vote shall not be closured?
    [No answer was given.]

    SALARIES OF IRISH NATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHERS
    MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL (Kerry, W.): I beg to ask the Chief Secretary
    416
    to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that principal teachers in Irish national schools were, before 1st April, 1900, in consequence of insufficient attendance, receiving salaries prescribed for classes lower than those to which they respectively belonged; whether it is these salaries that have been taken into account in fixing the permanent salaries of such teachers; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the Commissioners to give every such teacher the full financial benefit of his classification, should the average attendance rise to prescribed standard, or should he be appointed to another school having an average attendance up to the required standard.
    *MR. WYNDHAM: Before the 1st April, 1900, some teachers, owing to insufficient attendance at the schools, were receiving salaries lower than those attaching to the classes in which they were included, and in fixing the provisional salaries of such teachers the actual payments made to them were taken into account. The question of the future payment of such teachers is engaging the consideration of the Commissioners, who are in correspondence with the Treasury on the subject.

    IRISH NATIONAL SCHOOL TEACHERS HOLIDAYS.
    MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, in view of the fact that in the course of last year the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland received a memorial, signed by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Cloyne and by the Roman Catholic clergymen who are managers of schools, and also from other bodies of clergymen who are managers all over Ireland, respecting the curtailment of the annual vacations to national teachers, whether he can state what action has been taken by the Commissioners thereon, and whether they intend to accede to the request of men. who have an interest in Irish education, and are intimately acquainted with its working.
    *MR. WYNDHAM: I have referred this question to the Commissioners of, National Education, and have received

    417
    from them a reply as follows: Several memorials, signed by managers of National Schools with respect to the new rule as to vacations were submitted to the Board during the past year, and in view of the fact that managers seemed to misunderstand the rule, an explanatory circular was prepared by order of the Commissioners and issued at Christmas last. No further action seemed to be required.

    IRISH NATIONAL EDUCATION OFFICE —VACANCIES FOR CLERKS.
    MR. THOMAS O'DONNELL: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can state when the seven vacancies in second division clerkships in Irish National Education Office will be filled up; and whether some members of the abstracter, assistant clerks, class will be promoted to these vacancies, as they have complied with Treasury regulations by serving six years as abstracters.
    *MR. WYNDHAM: A general re-organisation of different departments of the Education Office is in progress, and pending the completion, of this work it is proposed that no permanent appointments be made to fill the vacancies which now exist.

    IRISH TOOK LAW OFFICERS' SUPERANNUATIONS.
    MR. MURNAGHAN: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, considering the magnitude of the pension scheme contained in the Poor Law Superannuation (Ireland) Bill, now standing on the Order Book, he will take steps to inform himself, before the Second Reading, of the probable charge on local rates should the Bill become law, having regard to the operation of a similar pension scheme in England; and whether he will obtain an actuarial report from Mr. Finlaison. actuary of the National Debt Commissioners, or other expert as to the probable annual burden on the rates, in like manner as was done in 1890 when the Police Superannuation (Scotland) Bill was before Parliament.
    *MR. WYNDHAM: I am informed that there would be considerable difficulty
    418
    in ascertaining with any degree of accuracy the charge on local rates should; this Bill become law; I am making further inquiry into the matter, however. In answer to the second paragraph, I am not aware of the circumstances, under which Mr. Finlaison was employed, as alleged.
    MR. DALY: When will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to give further information?
    *MR. WYNDHAM: I am inquiring into the matter, and will make a further-statement before the Bill is taken.

    COUNTY DOWN CONSTABULARY.
    MR. J. P. FARRELL: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with reference to recent promotions to the position of acting sergeants in county Down, whether he will make personal inquiry I into the statement that the promotions have been made on their merits; and whether he will ask for a detailed explanation of the appointment of six non- Roman Catholics to one Roman Catholic in a county where the Roman Catholic constables outnumber those of all other denominations.
    MR. WYNDHAM: I have made personal inquiry and have received the assurance of the Inspector General that promotions in the constabulary in Down, as elsewhere, are strictly governed, not by considerations of religion, but of merit. I may mention that an examination of the records show that the religions of men serving in the force throughout Ireland on the 1st January last were as follows:—Head constables: Roman Catholics 170, Protestants 81; sergeants:: Roman Catholics 1.334, Protestants 535; acting sergeants: Roman Catholics 305, Protestants 118; constables: Roman Catholics 6.230, Protestants 2,147.
    MR. J. P. FARRELL: I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for the trouble he has taken. Will he kindly further ascertain why there has been only one Roman Catholic promotion as against six Protestants in this county?
    MR. WYNDHAM: I imagine it was because there were six Protestants fit and only one Roman Catholic.

    COMMISSIONS OF ASSIZE—EXCLUSION OF IRISH MAYORS.
    MR. KENNEDY: I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether, seeing that chairmen of County and district councils in Ireland are, pursuant to statute, included in the commissions of the peace under which complaints brought by their respective councils are tried at petty sessions, he will follow this statutory precedent and reconsider his decision to exclude certain mayors of county boroughs from the commissions of assize on the ground only that the councils of those boroughs may be litigants under such commissions.
    THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. ATKINSON,: If the hon. Member will refer to my detailed answer to a question on this subject put to me by the hon. Member for East Clare on the 20th February of last year,* he will see that there is no real analogy between the cases he mentions in his question. The answer to the question now put is, therefore, in the negative.
    MR. KENNEDY: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the same principle applies to both, and that the difference is only one of degree?
    Mr. ATKINSON: I am aware, on the contrary, that it does not apply.

    SUMMARY JURISDICTION—CASE OF MR. HALPIN.
    MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: I beg to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland whether the Proceedings against Mr. Halpin, councillor for Clare, will be abandoned, as in the case of similar proceedings against Messrs. Lynch and M'Inerney.
    MR. ATKINSON: Yes, Sir. I hope that the hon. Members opposite will give facilities to pass the Bill which is intended to assimilate the law of England and Ireland in this respect.
    * See The Parliamentary Debates [Fourth Series], Vol. lxxix., page 587.
    MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: When will the Bill be brought in?
    MR. ATKINSON: To-day.

    LAND PURCHASE IN COUNTY WEXFORD.
    SIR THOMAS ESMONDE: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if, in view of the circumstance that land purchase is now stopped in county Wexford, to the inconvenience of a number of tenants who have arranged for the purchase of their holdings, he will expedite the inquiry which has been ordered to be held; and if he will state when he will be in a position to make a statement upon this subject, and also as to the intentions of the Government in regard to land purchase in Ireland generally.
    MR. WYNDHAM: The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The inquiry is being pressed with all possible despatch. In reply to the second paragraph, I must refer the hon. Member to the Leader of the House.

    VALUATIONS AT BANTEER, COUNTY CORK.
    MR. FLYNN: I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the case of a trader in Banteer, county Cork, the valuation of whose premises has been raised from £1 10s. to £10; whether he can say upon what principle the Commissioners of Valuation proceed in regard to valuation where the tenant makes improvements at his own expense; and was the local district council or poor law board consulted in regard to valuation of the premises; and, if not, can he say why this was not done.
    MR. WYNDHAM: The Commissioner of Valuation reports that prior to 1898 the trader referred to, presumably Mr. J. Sheehan, owned two small cottages in Banteer valued at fifteen shillings each. These were replaced by a substantial new house which was valued in that year at £10. If Mr. Sheehan considered this valuation excessive he could have appealed. The Valuation Acts do not require the commissioner to consult the local rating authorities.
    MR. FIELD: Does the right hon. Gentleman intend to apply the English system of valuation to Ireland?
    MR. WYNDHAM: I have said more than once that there is no intention to interfere with the Irish system.

    THE IRISH ESTIMATES.
    SIR THOMAS ESMONDE: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can say when the Vote for the Local Government Board for Ireland will be taken, and if the Government will provide an early opportunity for discussing the case of the Wexford County Council v. The Local Government Board.
    MR. A.J. BALFOUR: Of course, I shall be glad to take the Irish Estimates on any day that is most convenient to the Irish Members; but I may observe that before Easter there will be two opportunities at least on which it would be legitimate to raise the important question of "Wexford County Council v. The Local Government Board." Those occasions will be the Second and Third Readings of the Appropriation Bill.

    THE CORONATION OATH.
    MR. WILLIAM ABRAHAM: I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that there is no Church established by law in Ireland, the language of the Coronation Oath will also be referred to the Committee about to be appointed to consider that part of the King's Accession Oath offensive to Roman Catholics.
    MR A. J. BALFOUR: I am sorry to say I have not been able to refer to the
    Coronation Oath, but, if my memory serves me lightly, there is nothing offensive to Roman Catholics in the Oath, though there does occur in the Oath a phrase that the King will uphold the Church as established by law in Ireland, The Oath, I think, ought to be referred to the Committee, as that phrase seems somewhat out of place.

    MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS.
    PRESENCE OF THE SOVEREIGN IN PARLIAMENT—That they concur with the Commons in their Resolution, "That it is expedient that a Select Committee be appointed to join with a Committee of the Lords to consider the accommodation available in the House of Lords when the Sovereign is personally present in Parliament, and the advisability of substituting Westminster Hall on such an occasion for the House of Lords," as desired by this House.
    CREMATION BILL [Lords].
    Read the first time; to be read a second time upon Friday, and to be printed. [Bill 101.]

SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE (EXEMPTION FROM THE STANDING ORDER).
Motion made, and Question put, "That the Business of Supply, if under consideration at Twelve o'clock this night, be not interrupted under the Standing-Order, Sittings of the House."—(Mr. A. J. Balfour.)
The House divided:—Ayes, 195; Noes, 145. (Division List No. 70.)

AYES.

Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir Alex. F.

Hartley, George C. T.

Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

Bathurst, Hon. Allen Benjamin

Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. J. (Birm

Aird, Sir John

Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

Chamberlain, J. A. (Worc'r

Allhusen, Augustus Hy. Eden

Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

Chaplin, Rt. Hon. Henry

Allsopp, Hon. George

Bignold, Arthur

Chapman, Edward

Archdale, Edward Mervyn

Blundell, Colonel Henry

Churchill, Winston Spencer

Arkwright, John Stanhope

Boscawen, Arthur Griffith

Cochrane, Hn. Thomas H.A.E.

Arnold-Eorster, Hugh O.

Boulnois, Edmund

Cohen, Benjamin Louis

Arrol, Sir William

Bowles, Capt. H. E. (Middlesex)

Colomb, Sir John Charles Ready

Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

Colston, C. E. H. Athole

Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

Brookfield, Colonel Montagu

Corbett, A. Cameron (Glasgow)

Bailey, James (Walworth)

Brown, Alexander H. (Shropsh.

Corbett, T. L. (Down, North)

Bain, Colonel James Robert

Burdett-Coutts, W.

Cranborne, Viscount

Baird, John George Alexander

Carson, Rt. Hn. Sir Edw. H.

Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

Baldwin, Alfred

Cavendish, R. F (N. Lancs.)

Cross, Herb. Shepherd (Bolton)

Balfour, Rt. Hon. A. J. (Manch'r

Cavendish, Y.C. W.(Derbysh.)

Cubitt, Hon. Henry

Dalkeith, Earl of

Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop

Rothschild, Hon. Lionel Walter

Dalrymple, Sir Charles

Laurie, Lieut.-General

Royds, Clement Molyneux

Dickson, Charles Scott

Law, Andrew Bonar

Russell, T. W.

Digby, John K. D. Wingfield-

Lawrence, William F.

Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cockfield

Lawson, John Grant

Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

Leeky, Rt. Hn. Wm. Edw. H.

Samuel, Harry S. (Limehouse

Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

Lee, Arthur H (Hants, Fareham

Sassoon, Sir Edward Albert

Dyke, Rt. Hon. Sir Wm. Hart

Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

Seely, Charles Hilton(Lincoln)

Elliot, Hn. A. Ralph Douglas

Leveson-Gower. Fredk. N. S.

Sharpe, William Edward T.

Faber, George Denison

Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

Shaw- Stewart, M. H. (Renfrew

Fardell, Sir T. George

Long, Rt Hn. Walter (Bristol, S.

Simeon, Sir Barrington

Fellowes, Hon. Ailwyn Edward

Lonsdale, John Brownlee

Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

Fergusson, Rt Hn Sir J. (Manch.

Lowe, Francis William

Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, East)

Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft)

Smith, H. C (N'th'mb., Tyneside

Fisher, William Hayes

Lucas, Reginald J. (Portsmouth

Smith, James P. (Lanark.)

FitzGerald, Sir RobertPenrose-

Macartney, Rt Hn W.G. Ellison

Smith, Hon.W. F. D. (Strand)

Fitzroy, Hon. Edw. Algernon

Macdona, John Gumming

Spear, John Ward

Fletcher, Sir Henry

Maconochie, A. W.

Stanley, Hon Arthur (Ormskirk

Flower, Ernest

M 'Arthur, Chas. (Liverpool)

Stanley, Lord (Bancs.)

Garfit, William

M'Iver, Sir Lewis (Edinb.,W.)

Stewart, Sir M. J. M' Taggart

(Gibbs, Hon. Vicary (St. Albans)

M'Killop, James(Stirlingshire)

Stock, James Henry

Godson, Sir Augustus Fredk.

Majendie, James A. H.

Stone, Sir Benjamin

Gordon, Hn. J. E. (Elgin&Nairn)

Malcolm, Ian

Stroyan, John

Gordon, Maj Evans-(T'rH'ml'ts

Manners, Lord Cecil

Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napier

Gorst, Rt. Hn. Sir John Eldon

Maxwell, W. J. H(Dumfriessh.

Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

Goulding, Edward Alfred

Milward, Colonel Victor

Talbot, Rt. Hn. J. G. (Oxf'dUniv

Graham, Henry Robert

Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

Thorburn, Sir Walter

Greene, Sir E W (BrySEdm'nds

More, Robt. Jasper(Shropshire)

Thornton, Percy M.

Greene, W.Raymond-(Cambs.)

Morgan, Hn. Fred. (Monm'tsh.

Tollemache, Henry James

Greville, Hon. Ronald

Morrell, George Herbert

Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

Hain, Edward

Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

Tritton, Charles Ernest

Halsey, Thomas Frederick

Morton, Arthur H.A. (Deptford

Tufnell, Lieut.-Col. Edward

Hamilton, Rt Hn Lord G. (Mid'x

Mount, William Arthur

Valentia, Viscount

Hamilton, Marq of (L'nd'nderry

Mowbray, Sir Robert Gray C.

Walker, Col. William Hall

Hanbury, Rt. Hn. Robt. Wm.

Murray, Rt Hn A Graham (Bute

Warr, Augustus Frederick

Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashf 'd

Murray, Col. Wyndham (Bath)

Wason, John C. (Orkney)

Haslett, Sir James Horner

Myers, William Henry

Welby, Lt-Col A.C.E. (Taunt'n

Heath, Arthur H. (Hanley)

Nicholson, William Graham

Wharton, Rt. Hon. John L.

Heath, J. (Staffords, N. W.)

Nicol, Donald Ninian

Whitmore, Charles Algernon

Helder, Augustus

O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

Williams, Rt Hn J. Powell-(Bir.

Hope, J. F.(Sheff 'ld,Brightsde.

Orr-Ewing, Charles Lindsay

Wilson, John (Glasgow)

Houldsworth, Sir Wm. Henry

Barker, Gilbert

Wilson, J. W. (Worcestersh., N.

Howard, Capt. J. (Kent, Fav'rsh

Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

Wilson-Todd, W. H. (Yorks.)

Hozier,Hon. JamesHenryCecil

Purvis, Robert

Wodehouse, Rt. Hn. E. R (Bath)

Hudson, George Bickersteth

Rankin, Sir James

Wolff; Gustav Wilhelm

Hutton, John (Yorks, N. R.)

Reid, James (Geeenock)

Wortley, Rt. Hon. C. B. Stuart-

Jeffreys, Arthur Frederick

Renshaw, Charles Bine

Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

Johnston, William (Belfast)

Rentoul, James Alexander

TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

Kennaway, Rt. Hn. Sir John H.

Ridley, Hon. M. W (Stalybridge

Kenyon, Hn. Geo. T. (Denbigh

Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

NOES.

Abraham, Wm. (Cork, N.E.)

Caldwell, James

Ellis, John Edward

Allan, William (Gateshead)

Cameron, Robert

Emmott, Alfred

Allen, C. P. (Glouc., Stroud)

Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

Farquharson, Dr. Robert

Asquith, Rt. Hn. Herb. Henry

Campbell-Bannerman, Sir H

Farrell, James Patrick

Atherley-Jones, L.

Carew, James Laurence

Fenwick, Charles

Austin, Sir John

Causton, Richard Knight

Ffrench, Peter

Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

Cawley, Frederick

Field, William

Bayley, Thomas (Derbyshire)

Clancy, John Joseph

Fitzmaurice, Lord Edmond

Beaumont, Wentworth C. B.

Colville John

Flynn, James Christopher

Bell, Richard

Condon, Thomas Joseph

Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.)

Bigwood, James

Craig, Robert Hunter

Fowler, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry

Blake, Edward

Crombie, John William

Fuller, J. M. F.

Boyle, James

Daly, James

Furness, Sir Christopher

Brand, Hon. Arthur G.

Dalziel, James Henry

Gilhooly, James

Brigg, John

Davies, M. Vaughan- (Cardigan

Gladstone, Rt. Hn. Herbt. John

Broadhurst, Henry

Dewar, John A. (Inverness-sh.)

Goddard, Daniel Ford

Brunner, Sir John Tomlinson

Dilke, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles

Grant, Corrie

Burke, E. Haviland-

Doogan, P. C.

Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton

Burt, Thomas

Duffy, Wm. J.

Hammond, John

Buxton, Sydney Charles

Duncan, James H.

Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Sir William

Caine, William Sproston

Elibank, Master of

Harwood, George

424

425

Hayden, John Patrick

M'Laren, Charles Benjamin

Soames, Arthur Wellesley

Heaton, John Henniker

Markham, Arthur Basil

Soares, Ernest J.

Hemphill, lit. Hn. Charles H.

Mellor, Rt. Hon. J. William

Spencer, Rt Hn. C. R. (North'nts

Holland, William Henry

Mooney, John J.

Stevenson, Francis S.

Humphreys-Owen, Arthur C.

Murphy, J.

Strachey, Edward

Hutton, Alfred E. (Morley)

Nolan, Col. John P. (Galway, N.

Sullivan, Donal

Jacoby, James Alfred

Nolan, Joseph (Louth, South)

Taylor, Theodore Cooke

Joicey, Sir James

O'Brien, James F. X. (Cork)

Thomas, J. A. (Gl'm'rg'n,Gower

Jones, William (Carnarvonsh.

O'Brien, Kendal (Tipper ryMid

Thompson, E. C. (Monaghan, N.

Jordan, Jeremiah

O'Brien, Patrick (Kilkenny)

Tomkinson, James

Joyce, Michael

O'Connor, James (Wicklow,W.

Trevelyan, Charles Philips

Kennedy, Patrick James

O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

Tally, Jasper

Kinloch, Sir John George Smyth

O'Dowd, John

Vinceent Col. Sir CEH (Sh'ffield)

Kitson, Sir James

O'Kelly, James(Rosse'mm'nN.

Wallace, Robert

Labouchere, Henry

O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

Lambert, George

O'Shee, James John

Warner, ThomasCourtenay T.

Leamy, Edmund

Perks, Robert William

Wason, Eugene (Clackmannan

Leng, Sir John

Price, Robert, John

Weir, James Galloway

Levy, Maurice

Reddy, M.

White, George (Norfolk)

Lewis, John Herbert

Redmond, John E. (Waterford)

White, Luke (York, E. R.)

Lloyd-George, David

Redmond, William (Clare)

Whitley, J. H. (Halifax)

Lough, Thomas

Rickett, J. Compton

Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

Lowther, Rt. Hn. James(Kent)

Roche, John

Wodehouse, Hon. A. (Essex)

Lundon, W.

Roe, Sir Thomas

Young, Samuel (Cavan, East)

Macnamara, Dr. Thomas J.

Schwann, Charles E.

Yoxall, James Henry

M'Cann, James

Scott, Chas. Prestwich (Leigh)

TELLERS FOR THE NOES—

M'Kenna, Reginald

Shipman, Dr. John G.

Sir Thomas Esmonde and Captain Donelan.

M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North)

Sinclair, Capt. J. (Forfarshire)

NEW BILLS.
  MILITARY INSTRUCTION (SCHOOLS AND CADETS).
  Bill to provide for the regulation of Military Instruction in Schools and in Cadet Corps and Companies and Cadet Battalions, ordered to be brought in by Sir John Kennaway, Mr. Griffith-Bos-cawen, Mr. Cubitt, Sir Henry Fletcher, Mr. Lambert, Mr. W. F. D. Smith, and Colonel Williams.
  MILITARY INSTRUCTION (SCHOOLS AND CADETS) BILL.
  "To provide for the regulation of Military Instruction in Schools and in Cadet Corps and Companies and Cadet Battalions," presented, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Wednesday, 1st May, and to be printed. [Bill 102.]
  HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
  Bill to make further provisions for the Housing of the Working Classes, ordered to be brought in by Dr. Macnamara. Mr. John Burns, Captain Norton, Dr. Shipman, Mr. George White, Mr. Samuel, and Mr. Bell.
  HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES BILL.
  "To make further provision for the Housing of the Working Classes," presented, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Thursday.] 8th April, and to be printed. [Bill 103.]
  CROFTERS' HOLDINGS (SCOTLAND).
  Bill to amend the Crofters' Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1886, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Cathcart Wason, Mr. Bignold, Mr. John Dewar, Mr. Leveson-Gower, Mr. Harmsworth, Mr. Weir, and Mr. Gordon.
  CROFTERS' HOLDINGS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  "To amend the Crofters' Holdings (Scotland) Act, 1886," presented, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Wednesday, 17th April, and to be printed. [Bill 104.]
  SITES VALUES (LONDON) RATING.
  Bill to provide for the rating of Sites Values in London, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Sydney Buxton, Mr. Moulton, Mr. John Burns, Mr. E.J. C. Morton, and Mr. Lough.
  SITES VALUES (LONDON) RATING BILL.
  "To provide for the rating of Sites Values in London,'' presented, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Wednesday, 8th May, and to be printed. [Bill 105.)

  FOREIGNERS' MARRIAGES.
  Bill for the better protection of British subjects who intermarry with Foreigners in the United Kingdom of Great

  427
  Britain and Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Macdona, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Rothschild, Sir Joseph Dimsdale, Mr. Churchill, Lord Hugh Cecil, Captain Nolan, Mr. T. P. O'Connor. Dr. Farqu-harson, Mr. Samuel Evans, Mr. E. J. C. Morton, and Mr. Schwann.

  FOREIGNERS' MARRIAGES BILL.
  "For the better protection of British subjects who intermarry with Foreigners in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," presented, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Thursday, and to be printed. [Bill 106]
  REGISTRATION OF CLUBS.
  Bill to provide for the Registration of Clubs, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Caine, Mr. Eugene Wason, Mr. Hain, Mr. Lloyd-George, Mr. Schwann, and Mr. Samuel Young.
  REGISTRATION OF CLUBS BILL.
  "To provide for the Registration of Clubs," presented, and road the first time; to be read a second time upon Monday, 24th June, and to be printed. [Bill 107.]
  SUMMARY JURISDICTION (IRELAND)
  Bill to make provision with respect to entering into recognisances and finding-sureties in certain cases in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Attorney General for Ireland and Mr. Wyndham.
  SUMMARY JURISDICTION (IRELAND) BILL.
  "To make provision with respect to entering into recognisances and finding sureties in certain cases in Ireland," presented, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Monday next, and to be printed. [Bill 108.]

SUPPLY.
Considered in Committee.
(In the Committee.)
[Mr. J. W. LOWTHER, Cumberland, Penrith) in the Chair.]

SUPPLY.

  CIVIL SERVICES AND REVENUE DEPARTMENTS REVISED SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE, 1900–1901.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That a Supplementary sum, not ex-
  428
  ceeding £893,316, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1901, for the following Civil Services, and Revenue Departments, namely:—

  CIVIL SERVICES.
  Class V.

  £

  Vote 3.

  Colonial Services

  212,300

  Vote 2.

  British Protectorates in Uganda, etc.

  200,000

  Class VII.

  Vote 1.

  Temporary Commissions

  9,000

  Class II.

  Vote 23

  Stationery and Printing

  110,000

  Vote 27

  Secretary for Scotland, Office of

  100

  Class III.

  Vote 2.

  Miscellaneous Legal Expenses

  400

  Class IV.

  Vote 5.

  Wallace Collection

  3,333

  Vote 8.

  London University

  70

  Class V.

  Vote 1.

  Diplomatic and Consular Services

  15,800

  Vote 6.

  Treasury Chest Fund

  66,108

  Class VI

  Vote 1

  Superannuation and Retired Allowances

  10,000

  Vote 5.

  Savings Banks and Friendly Societies Deficiencies

  51,758

  Class VII.

  Vote 2.

  Miscellaneous Expenses

  4,600

  Vote 6.

  Local Loans Fund

  4,337

  Vote 7.

  Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (Visit to the Colonies)

  20,000

  Vote 8.

  Funeral of Her late Majesty

  35,500

  REVENUE DEPARTMENTS.

  Vote 2.

  Inland Revenue

  20,000

  Vote 3.

  Post Office

  130,000

  Vote 4.

  Post Office Packet Service

  10

  Total Civil Services and Revenue Departments

  £893,316

  *SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: I rise to put a question as to the position in which the House now stands under the operation of what is admitted to be an unexampled and unprecedented proceeding.
  THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,: No.
  *SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: The right hon. Gentleman contradicts me when I affirm that it is unprecedented. I was unable to be here yesterday, but I read in the reports of the proceedings that the right hon. Gentleman himself said there was no precedent. Therefore I am justified in saying that it is unprecedented by the words which came from his own mouth. I wish to know how is the Committee to deal with this Vote? Now far is it allowed to discuss a Vote on the subjects which the order Paper contains? There are a great many items grouped in the one Vote. Is the Committee at liberty to discuss and to vote upon all the subjects severally contained in the Paper? Under the old system. even with the prospect of the guillotine in the end, the House was allowed to discuss and divide on every Vote. Is the Leader of the party opposite going to give under this new proceeding the same facilities to the House as have hitherto been enjoyed in dealing with Supplementary Estimates? Can an Amendment be moved on every subject contained in the Order Paper, and can a division be taken upon each question? If anybody may move an Amendment upon any matter contained in the Paper, and take a division upon it, we shall know how to proceed. But in that case I do not see exactly how it is worth while to revolutionise the financial principles upon which the House always proceeds in this matter.
  MR. A. J. BALFOUR: I desire to ask whether the procedure of the House with regard to the Civil Service Estimates as now drawn will not be precisely the same as the procedure with which the House is perfectly familiar in regard to Supplementary Estimates for the Army and Navy, both of which contain items of the utmost difference, and whether it is not also the same as the procedure, with which the House is familiar, in dealing with the Excess Votes, in which case both the subjects; and the accounting officers are different.
  *MR. JOHN ELLIS: On the point of order I would remark that in the case of the Army and Navy the items arc all under one official head. In the case we have
  430
  before us there are many official heads of Departments.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: I think the House will wish to follow the same procedure as it does in the case of Votes on Account. The question there is put in one lump sum. and the, question in this case is put in one lump sum. In both cases the Votes are divided into a number of items. Of course I shall endeavour, as far as I possibly can, to call hon. Members who wish to address the Committee in the order in which the items come.
  SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT: As you have cited the. question of a Vote on Account, I desire to ask whether the effect of moving a reduction with regard to an item low-down in the list would be to exclude the moving of a reduction with regard to an item higher up in the list, and whether it is not entirely open to you to call Members who wish to speak, if you see fit, without regard to the exact order in which the Votes are taken.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: I shall make a point of endeavouring to call hon. Members in the order in which the items come, because I bear in mind the rule of the House that if an item low in the list is taken it is impossible to go hack to a former one.
  SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN: The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question of my right hon. friend in regard to the possibility of having successive divisions upon what are really separate Votes although now lumped together in one Vote. Would it be possible to have a series of discussions and divisions on the items as they occur?
  *THE CHAIRMAN: That is so, until such time as the whole Vote is taken.

  THE ASHANTI EXPEDITION.
  MR. C. P. SCOTTsaid he ventured to think that this Vote was one not to be lightly considered. It affected the credit and interest of this country, and he thought, therefore, the Committee should have more informa-

  431
  tion from the Colonial Secretary as to what made the war necessary. Many of them listened on the previous evening with a great deal of attention to what had been said by the Colonial Secretary on the subject, but they listened in vain for any precise statement upon this matter. They did not want to be told in general terms what were the, difficulties of the position in South Africa and what were the difficulties and aims of the Colonial Office, but they wanted to know the particular reasons that made this particular war necessary or justifiable. On the previous night the Colonial Secretary indulged in vague generalities and fell foul of the late Government. He told them that the British Government had undertaken responsibilities in Africa and it was only when he came into power as Colonial Secretary that an adequate sense of the position demanded was shown by the Government. The hon. Member thought the Colonial Secretary did certain injustice to the late Government in that matter. He did not think the late Government were so blind to the interests of this country or to our obligations as the right hon. Gentleman represented. It was perfectly true they did not go to war with anybody. That was perhaps the reason why the Colonial Secretary found fault with them. He believed the late Government entered into negotiations with Germany which settled some I outstanding difficulties with Germany; but the Colonial Secretary seemed to think that wars of this kind were absolutely necessary, and it was that which made his speech so unsatisfactory. We had no guarantee that we should not be embarked on a series of wars of this kind. The Colonial Secretary seemed to indicate that if we did our duty we were bound to go to war with one of these nations after another. That required a little explanation. The right hon. Gentleman had also told them that we were called upon to suppress slavery and the slave trade and human sacrifices; but these obligations were not new. They extended to all spheres of influence, and no doubt there had been an increase in our obligations as compared with what they were formerly. What he wanted to know was, what was the particular justification for this war in which we were
  432
  now engaged? It was to that the Committee ought to direct their attention.
  It was pretty obvious from the Blue-book that we drifted into this war at a time when our forces were engaged to the utmost in South Africa. The first telegram in the Blue-book was an inquiry from the Colonial Secretary asking what was up. The Colonial Secretary found that there were disturbances, and he had not the slightest idea what led up to them or what they were all about. We entered upon this war and seemed to stumble and blunder along without any adequate preparation, and we were only extricated from it by the extraordinary gallantry of the soldiers and officers in command. What led up to the war? Sir Frederick Hodgson went to Coomassie, apparently under instructions from the Colonial Secretary, and put forward demands, the most provocative he could put, to the Ashantis. He informed them positively that King Prempeh would never come back. They were in hopes that he would come back. Not satisfied with that, he told them they would have to pay a heavy tribute. The Colonial Secretary made light of the amount of it, but £12,500 was not a small amount for a people to pay who were impoverished by the destruction of their commerce. Beyond that, Sir Frederick Hodgson made a demand for the Golden Stool, which was the emblem of authority in Ashanti. If they surrendered the Golden Stool it meant that they ceased1 to be a nation, and became a scattered number of tribes. If that was to be done, it should be done with an adequate: force and after proper preparation. If we were going to take away the liberties of the people it ought to be done deliberately and founded upon a thoroughly thought out policy. Nothing of that kind was done. The expedition was undertaken without any knowledge of the feelings of the Ashantis, and it was undertaken at the worst time of the year. The Colonial Secretary ought to have given them a little more information as to the reasons which made a step of that kind necessary, and as to the necessity that existed for entering upon a war which involved such bloodshed and such immense loss to the colony and the Ashantis themselves. They were told that a policy of this kind was rendered.

  433
  necessary by our obligations. They were told that we were bound to put down slavery. There was no question of putting down slavery or human sacrifices in this instance. It was a question simply of raising tribute and getting hold of the Golden Stool which was the symbol of authority. If we were going to govern these countries we ought to endeavour to do so by entering into a friendly understanding with the chiefs. The French managed to get on better; they did not engage in these little wars.
  THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.): said the hon. Member was quite mistaken. In the last few months the French had had wars with two of the principal chiefs.
  MR. C. P. SCOTT: said the policy of France would bear favourable comparison with ours in that respect and in a great many others, he trusted that they were not to understand from the Colonial Secretary that this was the beginning of a series of wars to be undertaken with no more justification than this war, and that our policy in the future might be a little more in accordance with the dictates of humanity than it had hitherto been.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)contended that the Colonial Secretary's assertion that the reason for the opposition encountered by the last expedition to Coomassie was the objection of the natives to any interference with their slave dealings was incorrect, as it was conclusively Proved by the Blue-book that the whole of the disturbances were caused by the refusal of the Government to restore King Prempeh. The treatment of that unfortunate man had been perfectly scandalous, and it was no excuse to attack his personal character. In 1896 the Ashantis offered no opposition to the force sent out to Coomassie, and the Government could have imposed whatever conditions they chose, restored order in the county, and securedall they were striving for, through the authority of King Prempeh. Instead, however, of attempting to rule the country through the king, they kidnapped and imprisoned him, and
  434
  down to the present day no satisfactory explanation of their action had been given. The result of those proceedings was to be found in the shedding of blood, the uprising of the natives, and the trouble for which the House was now called upon to pay. If the Government were going to war and to impose large burdens upon the taxpayers in order to put down savage practices in any part of the world, England would always be at war, and the expense would be untold. But what really was at the bottom of this business was the same thing as was at the root of the South African trouble. There had unfortunately been discovered in Ashanti rich deposits of gold, and almost simultaneously with this expensive and sanguinary military expedition there were floated in the City limited liability companies for the exploration and exploitation of the gold-fields of Ashanti. There never was case in which it was more clearly proved that gold was a perfect curse to the people of the country in which it might be discovered. The Colonial Secretary had said that the war was undertaken to put down the slave trade. That trade, if it existed now, had existed for many, many years past, and why was no attempt to suppress it made long ago by the present or some preceding Government? According to the right hon. Gentleman, the Government had been consideration itself, and had done everything possible to smooth over the difficulties. To disprove that, one case might be cited of the manner in which these people had been treated. They might be called savage people, and no doubt it was a great mistake that the Almighty, when He created the world, did not make all the populations as highly civilised as the English people. The habits and customs of these people were no doubt shocking in many respects, but, after all, they deserved some consideration as human beings created by God, just as were other people. In 1896, when the British expedition arrived without opposition at Coomassie, there was a great ceremony. The troops were drawn up in a square. in the midst of which a species of throne was constructed of empty boxes and so forth. On this throne the commander of the expedition took his seat, and nothing would suit these people, who

  435
  wished to conciliate native opinion, but that this unfortunate native king should be marched out and made, on bended knee, to kiss the boots of Sir Francis Scott, the British commander. Even this degrading, humiliating, and scandalous exhibition was not sufficient: the poor old aged mother of the king was forced to go through the same ordeal. The only excuse made when the matter was brought forward in the House of Commons was that, according to a native custom, no submission was complete unless the conquered person made this obeisance to his conqueror, and that in order to impress upon the minds of these people the fact that they had been thoroughly conquered it was necessary that the king and his mother should go through this exhibition. That this description was not exaggerated was shown by Baden-Powell's "Downfall of Prempeh," a most interesting book and profusely illustrated, the first illustration being—
  *THE CHAIRMAN: I must remind the hon. Member that we are not now discussing the expenditure on that expedition. Upon this Vote the hon. Member must confine himself to the last expedition.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMONDexplained that he was endeavouring to show the causes which led to the recent military operations for which the Committee were now asked to pay. He believed that with proper treatment those operations would never have been necessary. He would not labour that point beyond saying that if any person imagined that what he had said about the treatment meted out to the king and his mother was untrue, he referred them to General Baden-Powell's book, and there they would see exactly what he had described. Could anybody imagine that it was possible to deal with a wild and untrained people of this kind if we outraged every feeling that they might have; if we did everything in our power to humiliate them and treat them with contempt; and if we treated their king in a way which must be deeply resented? The recent military operations had cost us many valuable lives, which certainly might have been sacrificed in a better
  436
  and nobler work, and now the House was asked to pass hundreds of thousands of pounds which need never have been incurred if, instead of attempting to ride absolutely roughshod over those people. King Prempeh had been allowed time to agree to the terms which were offered to him in 1896. Had this been done the whole country might have been ruled with perfect order, and the outrages spoken of by the Colonial Secretary would have been done away with. There were other portions of Africa where there was contentment and satisfaction, where the native chiefs were allowed to remain among their people, and if that had been done in this case he maintained that the necessity for all this miserable expenditure and terrible bloodshed would have been done away with. There were no doubt abuses in foreign countries which the Colonial Secretary and the Government might think it necessary to spend large sums upon, but there were plenty of abuses in this country which it would be equally-well worth while to spend money to do away with. Some hon. Members on the opposite side deeply resented his frequent interference in those debates, but he was never asked to vote the money for these miserable wars without having it forced upon his mind in the strongest possible way that there were scores of ways in which the money might be more gloriously and usefully spent than in carrying on these wars. The hon. Member for West Islington had done good service in calling attention to this matter, for the practice of asking the House to pass hundreds of thousands of pounds in this way was one which ought to be protested against on all sides, and if the great mass of the people of this country could realise and under stand how uncalled for all those operations were, and how little return ever came to England, Scotland, or Ireland for that expenditure, he believed they would set their faces against them, and they would not tolerate a single penny-piece spent in this way.
  The Colonial Secretary last night delivered a ferocious attack upon the Under Secretary for Colonial Affairs in the late Government. All he could say was that the late Government, whatever else might be laid to their blame, never entered in an unreasonable and light hearted way info wars of this kind, and

  437
  the Colonial Secretary seemed to make this a matter for blame. He (Mr. Redmond) held that it was to their credit that they did not. This war would never have been entered into to put down slavery. and it was a disgraceful and a horrible state of affairs at this period of the world's history to find that wherever gold was discovered, whether it was in North, East, West, or South Africa, two things happened—(1) limited liability companies were formed in the City of London, and (2) costly expeditions were sent out to seize the land wherever this gold might he. This took place in South Africa, and it was exactly what had taken place in Ashanti. It would be infinitely better and nobler and more in accordance with the dictates of humanity if the rights of these people were respected to some extent, and if this attempt to plant the British flag everywhere and anywhere at all costs was stopped; for it was the besetting sin of this country and of all Englishmen that they were so filled with the idea of the merits of their own rule and the pride of their own greatness that they could not tolerate or understand other people in any part of the world being desirous of living according to their own wishes in their own country. Until these small wars were given up there would be a continual waste of the public money of the country, and it was a disgrace that the benches of the Liberal party were empty while this kind of thing was going on. If there were an adequate representation of working people in this House there would be other voices raised protesting against this expenditure. In this matter the voices of the majority of those who ought to speak for the taxpayers and working people were silent, but his voice and the voices of other Irish representatives would be raised, and he believed that in this way they were doing a great service not only to the people they represented, but also to the great mass of the people of this country, who cared nothing about gold-mining and company promoting in the City, and who were sick at heart when they read in their newspapers that every day hundreds of thousands of pounds were voted in this way in the House of Commons, not one penny of which went to better the condition of the people of Great Britain or Ireland. All this money
  438
  was being spent simply to carry the sword, into the land of people in distant parts, whose only crime was that Cod made them what they were instead of making them highly civilised British subjects.
  MR. THOMAS BAYLEYsaid his hon. friend, in his impassioned speech, appeared to have forgotten that we were responsible for this protectorate in the eyes of Europe. He had forgotten that in 1896 the King of Ashanti was the most cruel and heartless man this world ever produced. We sent out an expedition there to stop one of the most cruel things that was ever perpetrated in Africa.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: You said the same thing about Kruger.
  MR. THOMAS BAYLEY: But there was no gold then in this case.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMOND: Oh, yes, there was.
  MR. THOMAS BAYLEYsaid the late war was the remains of the 1896 war, and the Government were perfectly honest and straightforward on this question. They had two keynotes with which he thoroughly agreed—one was that wherever the British flag flies we must stop human sacrifice; and the other was the abolition of slavery. He only wished that the Foreign Office had been as firm and determined on the East coast as they had been on the West coast of Africa. He believed that the Government and the Colonial Secretary were honest in their efforts to stop human sacrifice and slavery. He noticed that a sum of £12,500 a year was to be raised and would have to be collected by the hut tax. He thought it would cost more in small wars and collections than the sum was worth. and it would cause also a great deal of bad feeling. He thought the Government might consider some better way of raising that sum. He gave both the Government and the Colonial Secretary credit for putting their foot down in Ashanti in a determined manner.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGE (Carnarvon Boroughs)said that if all hon. Members on that side of the House were convinced

  439
  that these wars were entered upon for legitimate British interests they might not have grudged the expenditure of not merely this sum of money but the expenditure of ten times the amount. It would be in the recollection of hon. Members on both sides of the House that the complaint against the Government had been that they had not taken sufficient measures to repress slavery in East Africa. Therefore, if they criticised the expenditure of £400,000 on wars in West Africa, it was because they believed that these wars were not waged to abolish slavery but from some other excuse. If his hon. friend the Member for Chesterfield had, before making his speech, carefully read the Blue-books, he would not have made the observations he did. What were the two grievances of the Ashantis? According to Sir F. Hodgson himself they complained against the abolition of slavery; but they said: "You British are not sincere, because while you insist on our abolishing slavery you maintain it in another form." And Sir F. Hodgson admitted that at p. 113] of the Blue-book, by declaring that he had insisted on the compulsory supply of carriers and of men to make roads, but that the chiefs declared they were unable to obtain a sufficient number of labourers to work in the native gold pits, to carry on their ordinary farm labours, and also to supply labourers for public purposes, such as working on the public roads and the conveyance of public stores. The Ashantis might be savages, but at any rate they were a very intelligent race, and they could see the utter hollowness of the demand made by us for the suppression of slavery when we were forcing slavery upon them.
  A great deal had been said about the mad boy and the quest for the Golden Stool; but, in fact, that was a mad enterprise from beginning to end. What did that mad boy say? He told certain British officers that he had been through several Ashanti villages, and that the Ashantis were assembling in their temples and singing songs all night. We had seen a good deal of that assembling and singing in temples all night much nearer home, and he did not think it was much more sensible than that in Ashanti. And the mad boy said that if the Governor would pay him a large sum of money he
  440
  would lead an expedition to find the Golden Stool. But all that had nothing to do with the abolition of slavery. What was the defence of the Governor for following the lead of the mad boy? The fact was that the quest of the Golden Stool was something like the quest of the Holy Grail. Sir F. Hodgson said that if he could only get possession of the Golden Stool he would be able to govern the country for all time. Sir F. Hodgson crossed the Prah on '22nd March, but up to that time there had been no insurrection. The Governor in his despatches, in fact, repeatedly declared that he had no idea that there was any discontent amongst the tribes, but, on the contrary, that he had been received with all respect. The proof of that was that he went up from the coast to Coomassie with an escort of only thirty Hausas, that he had been met by no obstacle, and had never been molested in the country which was supposed to be seething with discontent. What happened when ho arrived at Coomassie? There was a great reception and the surrounding tribes and their kings marched past him, with one exception, which came in later on. What sign was there in that of any great insurrection? On the 30th March—it would have been far better if it had been the 1st April—the Governor heard the story from the mad boy as to the Golden Stool, and he sent an armed expedition, guided by the mad boy, into the interior of the country. The Governor said in his despatch: "The 1st April was a day of extreme anxiety to me." He was not at all surprised. For two or three days this armed expedition marched about the country; the mad boy went into the villages and told the natives that "these people"—meaning the Governor's expedition—"have come to wage war against you." After that it became clear to the villagers that it was simply a raiding expedition in quest of the Golden Stool. The result was the revolt, the war, and the expenditure of £400,000. Now, who was to blame for this war? The chieftains were not merely loyal but submissive, and prepared to demand redress in a perfectly constitutional way. Was there anything more constitutional than for these chiefs to come to Coomassie to receive the Governor with welcomes I and to present him with salutations?
  MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLsaid that the hon. Member was forgetting that an insurrection might spring up in these savage countries under mistaken notions.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGEsaid that, of course, an insurrection might spring up an this foolish manner if this country allowed its policy to be guided by mad boys. If that sort of action was characteristic of the Colonial Office he could understand that we would have not three wars, but many more in the next few years. All this showed that the war was precipitated not only because there was a quest for the Golden Stool, but because of the irritation in the minds of these people at the annexation of their country. Questions had been put to the right hon. Gentleman the Colonial Secretary the previous night: dates were given and incidents were referred to; but the right hon. Gentleman in his reply, instead of addressing himself to the points put, entered into an elaborate defence of the administration of his own office. The question was what had happened in this particular case—not whether it was necessary to defend Ashanti, or to develop the gold mines. The gold mines had never been mentioned in these despatches. Was the war, in the ordinary cant phrase, "inevitable"? The right hon. Gentle-man said, "When I came to the Colonial Office there was nothing done; but the moment I came on the scene there were six wars."
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I said nothing of the kind.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGE: Oh. but I have got it all here.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: What I said was that I am responsible for three wars, and the Foreign Office is responsible for three wars.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGE: The right hon. Gentleman said that as soon as his Ministry came into office there were six wars. That did just as well for him. The right hon. Gentleman said that when his hon. friends now on the Opposition Benches wers in office they did nothing. Quite true. Their
  442
  Estimates provided for no wars. They had better ideas of profit and loss in business than that. And now he could quite understand that the right hon. Gentleman had got into the habit of talking of these wars as if they were all feathers in his cap. If he only went on, the right hon. Gentleman's headgear would be like that of a. Red Indian He ventured to say that the right hon. Gentleman in defending his action the previous evening did not do so with the sobriety due to this important and solemn matter. After all, human life was worth some respectful treatment. They ought to have some justification of the foolish policy of the Government in regard to the Golden Stool and of the hundreds and thousands of the corpses of savages festering round the fort of Coomassie. It was not enough to say, "Look at the great colonial policy of the last five years." That was no answer. "I have opened up new markets," said the right hon. Gentleman; but that also was no answer. If we went into wars they profited trade to a certain extent. £400,000 of trade was something, if we spent nothing else. But that was not the sort of industry that was wanted to open up new markets. He ventured to say that the community generally would not benefit by it; that these people in Ashanti would prefer to conduct their operations quietly; and it was only when the right hon. Gentleman went out of his way to offend their sentiments in connection with their native affairs that they forced on this war. A poll-tax equivalent to 4s. per head had been demanded upon this savage community. Where were we to get it from? We were collecting the taxes in Uganda in the form of boa constrictors and hippopotami—the only products of the country. But so far as he was aware there were not even those fiscal resources in Ashanti. It was true there were certain native gold mines; but we had abolished slavery, and it was by slave labour that these mines were worked. Still, we demanded the tax at the hands of the chiefs ! He quite agreed that we should abolish slavery, but at the same time we should not compel them to pay that which the slaves had earned. The right hon. Gentleman had not addressed himself to the question with a proper regard for its solemnity. He drew attention to what

  443
  he described as the ridiculous language-used by Sir F. Hodgson to the chiefs with reference to the Golden Stool, and said it would have been better if the Colonial Secretary had addressed himself to a defence of the Government in respect of the action of Sir F. Hodgson. In his address to the chiefs Sir F. Hodgson asked, "Where is the Golden Stool? Why am I not sitting on it at this moment? I am the representative of the paramount Power; why have you relegated me to this chair?" (referring to a biscuit box). This was childish babble to address to these savages in the name of the Sovereign of a great country like this, and it was calculated only to lower, not to enhance, British prestige. The right hon. Gentleman had said we had to defeat them, it was necessary to kill them, in order to show that we were a great nation; but we had gone through that process before, and they knew the superiority of British arms. Was it necessary to repeat the process periodically? If so, a greater condemnation of the policy of the Government in this matter could not be conceived. It was not a question of protecting the country or compelling these people to free their slaves. If it was a question of the freeing of slaves. we might commence that at Zanzibar.
  SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTdid not consider the speech of the hon. Gentleman who had just sat down a practical one. The Ashanti affair was closed, and although there might be regrettable incidents connected with the dealings with these kings it was impossible to go back into the matter. On the whole the results had been good. The outcome of British control in Ashanti would result in the safety and prosperity of hundreds and thousands of natives in the future, as had been truly said by the Colonial Secretary on the previous evening. He protested against the statement of the hon. Gentleman that the late Government had too good an idea of profit and loss to indulge in this way; had the policy of the late Government been pursued in Africa we should not have had any possessions to deal with at all. either in Ashanti or South Africa. It was futile at this time to talk of the mistakes which: had occurred, although he admitted there might be some. For
  444
  instance, he did not think that the mission which had been sent by King Prempeh was fairly dealt with. His main complaint against the Colonial Secretary with regard to the Ashanti question was. very different to any of those just put forward. In his opinion there was a want of sufficient force at Coomassie previous to the outbreak; that was a serious question, and he did not know who was-responsible for it, but someone undoubtedly was, and the failure to maintain sufficient force at Coomassie was entirely responsible for the terrible loss of life that had occurred. It was perfectly plain to everybody that a very terrible tragedy had only been narrowly averted by the escape of the Governor. He desired to know why so very small a force was left in the country of a warlike and un-subdued people without any immediate provision being made for its reinforcement; that was a point upon which they were entitled to have the views of the right hon. Gentleman. What had happened in Ashanti would work for good; we should possess in the country and the neighbouring regions a colony of great and increasing wealth, which would be useful to this country in the future in taking its products, and which would give employment to many British subjects, and under the British rule the black races would be much better off than ever they had been before, and under the British Government they would attain to a certain degree of civilisation.
  MR. LOUGHsaid he-had hoped that the answer given by the Colonial Secretary on the previous evening would have enabled him to avoid troubling the House to go into the division lobbies on this question, but unless that answer was amended he should be compelled to press for a division. In answer to the suggestion that this expedition was for the purpose of putting down human sacrifice and slavery he challenged anyone to say whether there had been any human sacrifice or whether slavery had been allowed in the country during the last five years. The Government had accomplished their purpose of abolishing human sacrifice and slavery-years before the outrage took place. He-called the attention of the Committee-to the fact that this was merely a general

  445
  argument thrown out by the right hon. Gentleman to justify a war for which he could find no other justification whatever. Sir Frederick Hodgson had given three causes for the war, none of which were sufficient causes. The first was the heavy tribute which he said must be paid by the natives, and in this case there appeared to be a difference of opinion between the right hon. Gentleman and Sir Frederick Hodgson. The right hon. Gentleman said it was a poll tax on the whole male population of Ashanti. Sir Frederick Hodgson said it was interest on the cost of the late expedition. The right hon. Gentleman stated that there was a balance of £50,000 in the Gold Coast budget. If there was he did not think it would be; fair to the Gold Coast to sweep away all that to pay the money due for Ashanti. The right hon. Gentleman said at one time that it was a poll tax of four shillings, and at another time it was the interest on outlay. This attempt to chevy these people out of the money had been the first cause of the war. With regard to the Golden Stool he thought the Secretary for the Colonies should do something to soothe the irritated feeling of the natives. We were still searching for the Golden Stool, and the light hon. Gentleman stated on the previous night that he approved of the search. Was it to go on eternally, and was it to be "unconditional surrender" until we got the Golden Stool? Surely we might take a practical view of the question, and the right hon. Gentleman might announce that there had been sufficient bloodshed and loss of money over this matter. The right hon. Gentleman said we had admitted these natives to the Pax Britannica. He hardly ever made a speech on the colonies without quoting the words Pax Britannica. Where had the Pax Britannica been since he came into office? There had been eight wars in Africa, and there would never be any other policy so long as the right hon. Gentleman was in charge of the Colonial Office. The Ashanti war was "over" simply because the natives were tired for the present. Could it be said that with the sense of injustice in their minds they wore not preparing for another war? They would break out again and again unless we met their just complaints in a kindly and
  446
  conciliatory spirit. It was because that had not been done that he moved the reduction of the first item of the Vote by £100.
  Motion made, and Question proposed. "That the Item, Class 5, Vote 3, be reduced by £100, in respect of disturbances in Ashanti.''—(Mr. Lough.)
  MR. BROADHURSTsaid one of the most painful features of the debate was the absence from it of a number of hon. Members who were leading lights in the different religious communities of the country interested in foreign missions. In years gone by we used to hear the voice of the missionary interest raised in favour of the civilisation. of Africa by peaceful processes, and not by warlike proceedings such as we seemed to depend upon now. The hon. Member for the Chesterfield Division of Derbyshire was handsomely caught in the colonial net so cunningly spread on the previous night, and he was innocent enough to believe that this war in Ashanti was undertaken out of a pure desire to put an end to human sacrifices. It was noticeable of late years that the loadstone which called the Government to relieve oppression was generally found in the gold mines, and here it was again. When this Government professed to go to the relief of human beings it would be found, if it were looked into a little further, that speculators were near the scene of their action. Talk of a crusade to suppress human sacrifices Could there be anything more monstrous than such a profession in face of the account on page 46 of the Blue-book of the state of things that was found at Coomassie? Why, it was a disgrace to a civilised nation. We should have heard nothing about the stool if it had been a wooden one. An orange box would have been perfectly satisfactory. There would have been no demand for it had it not been that it was supposed to be made of the precious metal. Were we suppressing slavery? Before we went to the native chiefs in the name of freedom we should remove the compound at Kimberley. What had we there? How were the wealthy men who were the friends of the Government, and who were the authors of the war in

  447
  South Africa, producing gold out there, but by a system of slavery?
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAINasked whether the hon. Member was in order in the line he was now taking.
  *THE CHAIRMANpointed out that it was not in order to discuss matters relating to Kimberley on this Vote.
  MR. BROADHURSTsaid he recognised that the reference was inconvenient to the Secretary for the Colonies, and if it was ruled out of order he would not pursue the subject. He might be allowed to say that the Secretary for the Colonies based this expedition for loot in Ashanti on the ground that he was going there for the prevention of further human sacrifices and the prevention of slavery. He only desired to show that we ought to take the mote out of our own eye before we attempted to pluck the beam out of our brother's eye. The right hon. Gentleman could not deny that there had been "blackbird hunting" in the interest of some of the authorities in South Africa. That resulted in the capture of a poor creature who preferred suicide by drowning to slavery in the mines, He understood that the right hon. Gentleman had assured the House that he was going to inquire into the truth of that.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I must appeal to you again. If the hon. Gentleman is in order I must go fully into the statement he is now making. I ask you whether he is in order in referring to these matters in Rhodesia and Kimberley.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: I understood the hon. Member to say that he was not going to refer to them.
  MR. BROADHURST: I do not wish to pursue it except for the purpose of illustration, and I really think if the Colonial Secretary would allow me for a moment to pursue my statement, under the guidance of the Chair—
  *THE CHAIRMAN: The hon. Gentleman is entitled to a passing reference, but to go into this question and state a number of facts, which the right hon. Gentleman says he may have to contra-
  448
  dict at a later stage, is clearly outside the scope of this discussion.
  MR. BROADHURSTsaid he supported the motion for the reduction of the Vote because he believed the Government, in pursuing a policy of universal war in Africa, were pursuing a deadly and disastrous policy, not only financially, but for the reputation and good name of our common country. The Colonial Secretary seemed to think a, great argument in favour of his policy was that he had made more wars than the Liberal party. Then there seemed to be a conflict between the Colonial Office and the Foreign Office as to which had made most wars. The Liberal party ruled Africa on the lines of peace, and he sincerely hoped that when they returned to power again they would resume the policy of peace, and that they would not attempt to teach savages the wickedness of human sacrifices by indulging in great slaughter, with modern weapons, of the poor savage people we sought to rule. The basis of this movement in Ashanti was the curse of gain. He could vote with a clear conscience against that policy.
  *SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: I wish to say, in a few sentences, why I shall vote for the reduction of this Vote. It is on account of the defence which has been put forward by the Colonial Secretary. He has claimed credit for this Vote as being an instance of the superiority of the present Administration over the late Administration in regard to the number of wars in which it has been engaged. Whenever such a policy is advocated upon such grounds as that, I shall vote against every sixpence.
  MR. J. P. FARRELLsaid this was the third expedition which the British Government had indulged in for the purpose of introducing civilisation into Ashanti. Civilisation introduced by the British Government was always introduced with the bayonets of soldiers. The Government went to these countries with the Bible in one hand and the sword in the other. He thought the English race should give effect to their missionary instincts a little more in their own country. There were some English towns where some good might be done.

  449
  If the hon. Member for West Islington had not moved the reduction of the Vote, he would have moved a reduction of £18,000, that being the amount of additional taxation which it represented so far as Ireland was concerned. He protested against the policy of introducing civilisation by warfare on savage peoples, who were practically defenceless, because they could not possibly withstand quick-firing guns and new deadly inventions. It was a policy which would make the British name detested wherever conquests were made.
  MR. A. J. BALFOUR: May I make an appeal in the interest of the discussions that are to come? It is evident that if we discuss this Vote at too great length we will find little time left for the consideration of the other Votes. I would therefore beg the House to try to come to a decision.
  MR. O'MARAsaid the dishonourable means by which King Prempeh was entrapped must have
  weighed with the natives, and he did not think that sufficient attention had been given to the matter. Methods of sharp practice against weaker opponents were very much to be deprecated. They were out of place in the Colonial Office, however well they might be suited to Birmingham. The Colonial Secretary had not replied to the many criticisms which had been addressed to him that day. The First Lord of the Treasury had appealed to the House generally to accelerate the progress of the Vote through the House. The business of the House would be much accelerated if Ministers did not treat the criticisms coming from the Irish Members with the contempt they had shown. It would seem that the war was made for the Golden Stool. Perhaps the Colonial Secretary wanted it as a stool of repentance, from which to do penance for all the wars he had made.
  Question Put.
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 137; Noes, 254. (Division List No. 71.)

  AYES.

  Abraham, William (Cork, N. E.)

  Elibank, Master of

  Lloyd-George, David

  Allan, William (Gateshead)

  Ellis, John Edward

  Lundon, W.

  Allen, C. P. (Glouc, Stroud)

  Esmonde, Sir Thomas

  Macnamara, Dr. Thomas J.

  Asquith Rt. Hn. Herbert Henry

  Farquharson, Dr. Robert

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Barlow, John Emmott

  Farrell, James Patrick

  M'Kenna, Reginald

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Fenwick, Charles

  M'Laren, Charles Benjamin

  Bell, Richard

  Ffrench, Peter

  Mansfield, Horace Rendall

  Boyle, James

  Field, William

  Mappin, Sir Frederick Thorpe

  Brigg, John

  Fitzmaurice, Lord Edmond

  Mellor, Rt. Hon. John W.

  Brown, George M. (Edinburgh)

  Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.

  Morley, Charles (Breconshire)

  Brunner, Sir John Tomlinson

  Gilhooly, James

  Moss, Samuel

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Gladstone, Rt Hn. Herbert John

  Murphy, J.

  Burns, John

  Goddard, Daniel Ford

  Nolan, Col. John P. (Galway, N.

  Burt, Thomas

  Grant, Corrie

  Norton, Capt. Cecil William

  Buxton, Sydney Charles

  Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton

  O'Brien, James F. X. (Cork)

  Caine, William Sproston

  Hammond, John

  O'Brien, Kendal (Tipper'ryMid

  Caldwell, James

  Harcourt, lit. Hon. Sir William

  O'Brien, Patrick (Kilkenny)

  Cameron, Robert

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Connor, James (Wicklow, W.

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Hayne, Rt. Hn. Charles Seale-

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Campbell-Bannerman, Sir H.

  Hemphill, lit. Hon. Charles H.

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  Carew, James Laurence

  Holland, William Henry

  O'Dowd, John

  Carvill, Patrick Geo. Hamilton

  Humphreys-Owen, Arthur C.

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Causton, Richard Knight

  Hutton, Alfred E. (Morley)

  O'Kelly, Jas. (Roscommon, N.)

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Jacoby, James Alfred

  O'Malley, William

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Jones, William (Carnarvonsh.

  O'Mara, James

  Craig, Robert Hunter

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

  Crean, Eugene

  Joyce, Michael

  Partington, Oswald

  Crombie, John William

  Kearley, Hudson E.

  Price, Robert John

  Daly, James

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Reddy, M.

  Davies, Alfred (Carmarthen)

  Kinloch, Sir John George Smyth

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Davies, M. Vaughan-(Cardigan

  Kitson, Sir James

  Reid, Sir R. T. (Dumfries)

  Dewar, John A.(Inverness-sh.)

  Labouchere, Henry

  Rigg, Richard

  Dilke, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles

  Layland-Barratt, Francis

  Roche, John

  Donelan, Captain A.

  Leamy, Edmund

  Roe, Sir Thomas

  Doogan, P. C.

  Leng, Sir John

  Samuel, S. M. (Whitechapel)

  Dully, William J.

  Levy, Maurice

  Schwann, Charles E.

  Duncan, James H.

  Lewis, John Herbert

  Scott, Chas. Prestwich (Leigh)

  Shipman, Dr. John G.

  Thomas, F. Freeman-(Hastings

  White, Luke (Yorks., E. R.)

  Sinclair, Capt. John (Forfarsh.)

  Tomkinson, James

  Whitley, J. H. (Halifax)

  Smith, Samuel (Flint)

  Trevelyan, Charles Philips

  Williams, Osmond (Merioneth

  Soares, Ernest, J.

  Tully, Jasper

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid)

  Spencer, Rt. Hn. C. R (N'thants)

  Wallace, Robert

  Young, Samuel (Cavan, East),

  Stevenson, Francis S

  Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

  Yoxall, James Henry

  Sullivan, Donal

  Warner, Thomas Courtenay T.

  Taylor, Theodore Cooke

  Wason, Eugene (Clackmannan

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Mr. Lough and Mr. Broadhurst.

  Tennant, Harold John

  Weir, James Galloway

  Thomas, A. (Glamorgan, E.)

  White, George (Norfolk)

  NOES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir A. F.

  Davies, Sir Horatio D (Chatham

  Helder, Augustus

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Dewar, T. R (T'rH'mlets, S Geo.

  Higginbottom, S. W.

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Hoare, E. Brodie (Hampstead)

  Allhusen, Augustus Henry E.

  Dickson-Poynder, Sir John P.

  Hobhouse, Henry (Somerset, E.

  Allsopp, Hon. George

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cockfield

  Hogg, Lindsay

  Anson, Sir William Reynell

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Hope, J. F. (Sheffield Bightside

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Dixon-Hartland, Sir Fred. D.

  Houldsworth, Sir Wm. Henry

  Arkwright, John Stanhope

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Hoult, Joseph

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Doxford, Sir Wm. Theodore

  Howard, Capt. J. (KentFaversh

  Arrol, Sir William

  Duke, Henry Edward

  Hozier, Hon. James Hy. Cecil

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Dunn, Sir William

  Hudson, George Bickersteth

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  Hutton, John (Yorks, N. R.)

  Austin, Sir John

  Dyke, Rt. Hon. Sir Wm. Hart

  Jebb, Sir Richard Claverhouse

  Bagot, Capt. Josceline FitzRoy

  Egerton, Hon. A. de Tatton

  Jeffreys, Arthur Frederick

  Bailey, James (Walworth)

  Elliot, Hon. A. Ralph Douglas

  Jessel, Capt. Herbert Merton

  Rain, Colonel James Robert

  Faber, George Denison

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Ralcarres, Lord

  Fergusson, Rt. Hn Sir J. (Manc'r

  Kennaway, Rt. Hn. Sir J. H.

  Baldwin, Alfred

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Kenyon, Hn. Geo. T. (Denbigh

  Balfour, Rt. Hn. A. J.(Manch'r

  Finlay, Sir Robert Rannatyne

  Kenyon Slaney, Col. W. (Salop

  Banbury, Frederick George

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Kimber, Henry

  Hartley, George C. T.

  FitzGerald, Sir Robert Penrose-

  Lambton, Hon Frederick Wm.

  Bathurst, Hn. Allen Benjamin

  Fitzroy, Hon. Edward Algernon

  Laurie, Lieut.-General

  Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

  Flannery, Sir Fortescue

  Lawrence, William F.

  Reach, Rt. Hn. W.W.B. (Hants.

  Fletcher, Sir Henry

  Lawson, John Grant

  Reaumont, Wentworth C. B.

  Foster, Sir Michael(Lond. Univ.

  Lecky, Rt. Hon. Wm. Edw. H.

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  Lee, Arthur H. (Hants, Farham

  Bhownaggree, Sir M. M.

  Furness, Sir Christopher

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Bignold, Arthur

  Garfit, William

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Rill, Charles

  Gibbs, Hn. A.G.H (City of Lond.

  Leveson-Gower, Fredk. N. S.

  Bond, Edward

  Gibbs, Hon. Vicary (St. Albans)

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Bowles, Capt. H. F. (Middlesex

  Godson, Sir Augustus Frederick

  Long, Rt. Hn. Walter (BristolS.

  Brassey, Albert

  Gordon, Hn. J. E. (Elgin&Nairn

  Lonsdale, John Brownlee

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Gordon, Maj Evans-(T'rHmlets

  Lowe, Francis William

  Brookfield, Colonel Montagu

  Gore, Hon. F. S. Ormsby-

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Bull, William James

  Gorst, Rt. Hn. Sir John Eldon

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Burdett-Coutts, W.

  Goschen, Hon. George Joachim

  Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft)

  Butcher, John George

  Goulding, Edward Alfred

  Lucas, Reginald J.(Portsmouth

  Carson, Rt. Hn. Sir Edw. H.

  Gray, Ernest (West Ham)

  Lyttelton, Hon. Alfred

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Greene, Sir E W (B'rySEdm'nds

  Macartney, Rt. Hn. W. G. E.

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.)

  Macdona, John Gumming

  Cavendish, V. C. W. (Derbysh.

  Gretton, John

  Maconochie, A. W.

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hn J.(Birm.

  Greville, Hon. Ronald

  M'Arthur, Charles (Liverpool)

  Chamberlain, J. Austen (Wore.

  Groves, James Grimble

  M'Iver, Sir Lewis (Edinburgh W

  Chapman, Edward

  Guthrie, Walter Murray

  M'Killop, James (Stirlingshire

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Hain, Edward

  Malcolm, Ian

  Clare, Octavius Leigh

  Halsey, Thomas Frederick

  Manners, Lord Cecil

  Cochrane, Hn. Thos. H. A. E.

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Maple, Sir John Blundell

  Cohen, Benjamin Louis

  Hamilton, Rt. Hn. Ld. G. (Midx

  Martin, Richard Biddulph

  Colomb, Sir John Charles R.

  Hamilton, Marq. of (Londndrry

  Maxwell, W. J. H.(Dumfriessh.

  Colston, Chas. Edw.H. Athole

  Hanbury, Rt. Hn. Robert Wm.

  Melville, Beresford Valentine

  Corbett, A. Cameron (Glasgow

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent Ashf'rd

  Mildmay, Francis Bingham

  Corbett, T. L. (Down, North)

  Hare, Thomas Leigh

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Cox, Irwin Edw. Bainbridge

  Harmsworth, R. Leicester

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Harris, F. Leverton (Tynem'th)

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Cripps, Charles Alfred

  Harwood, George

  Montagu, Hon. J. Scott (Hants.

  Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

  Haslam, Sir Alfred S.

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Cross, Herb. Shepherd (Bolton)

  Haslett, Sir James Horner

  More, Robt. Jasper (Shropshire)

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Hay, Hon. Claude George

  Morgan, D. J. (Walthamstow)

  Cust, Henry John C.

  Heath, Arthur Howard(Hanley

  Morgan, Hn. Fred (Monm'thsh.

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Heath, James (Staffords, N. W.

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Dalrymple, Sir Charles

  Heaton, John Henniker

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  452

  453

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Ritchie, Rt. Hn. Chas. Thomson

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Morton, Arthur A. A. (Deptford

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney

  Thorburn, Sir Walter

  Mount, William Arthur

  Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Mowbray, Sir Robert Gray C.

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Murray, Rt Hn. A Graham(Bute

  Samuel, Harry S. (Limehouse)

  Tritton, Charles Ernest

  Murray, Charles J.(Coventry)

  Sassoon, Sir Edward Albert

  Valentia, Viscount

  Murray, Col. Wyndham (Bath)

  Saunderson, Rt. Hn. Col. E.J.

  Vincent, Col. Sir C.E.H. (Sh'ffld

  Myers, William Henry

  Seely, Charles (Lincoln)

  Walker, Col William Hall

  Nicholson, William Graham

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Warr, Augustus Frederick

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Simeon, Sir Barrington

  Whiteley, H. (Ashton-under-L.

  O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Whitmore, Charles Algernon

  Orr-Ewing, Charles Lindsay

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, East)

  Williams, Colonel R. (Dorset)

  Parker, Gilbert

  Smith, H. C (North'mb. Tynesi'e

  Wilson, John (Falkirk)

  Parkes, Ebenezer

  Smith, James Parker (Lanarks.

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Peel, Hn Wm. Robert Wellesley

  Spear, John Ward

  Wilson, J. W. (Worcestersh, N.

  Pierpoint, Robert

  Spencer, Ernest (W. Bromwich

  Wilson-Todd, Wm. H. (Yorks.)

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Stanley, Hon. A. (Ormskirk)

  Wolff, Gustay Wilhelm

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs.)

  Wortley, Rt. Hon. C. B. Stuart-

  Purvis, Robert

  Stewart, Sir Mark J. M'Taggart

  Wrightson, Sir Thomas

  Quilter, Sir Cuthbert

  Stirling-Maxwell, Sir John M.

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Rankin, Sir James

  Stock, James Henry

  Young, Commander (Berks, E.)

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Stone, Sir Benjamin

  Remnant, James Farquharson

  Stroyan, John

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Renshaw, Charles Bine

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Start, Hn. Humphrey Napier

  Original question again proposed.

  TRANSVAAL CONCESSIONS COMMISSION.
  MR. MARKHAM, in moving to reduce the Vote by £200, said he was well aware that everything uttered in the House of Commons was used in the Cape by the one party or the other for political purposes. He did not wish in any way to intensify the racial struggle now proceeding, but there were times in the lives of men as of nations when criticism of private and urgent affairs was necessary in the public interest. For that reason he had no hesitation in bringing certain facts before the Committee; but he was able to do so only in a partial manner owing to the limited reference and to the fact that the Concessions Commission had not yet reported. That Commission would go down to history as one more of those Commissions appointed by the Colonial Secretary for "whitewashing" purposes, and not in the interests of South Africa.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: To which Commission is the hon. Member referring?
  MR. MARKHAMsaid he was referring to all of them, but particularly the Concessions Commission. It was a remarkable fact that the Colonial Secretary, not being content with the dissatisfaction
  454
  caused throughout South Africa by the line taken with regard to another Commission, had on this Commission appointed a representative of Messrs Wernher, Beit, and Co. What interest could he served by appointing on a Commission of three members a, gentleman in the employment of and directly connected with the firm of Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Company? He had no desire to shelter himself behind the privilege attaching to Members of the House, and he was perfectly willing to repeat out of doors, if called upon to do so. the statements he was about to make. It would be within the recollection of the House that it-was only a few years ago that the Colonial Secretary alluded to the party of which he was so distinguished an ornament as a celebrated gang of thieves and swindlers": he (the speaker), however, was going to charge these men with being nothing more nor less than a common gang of thieves and swindlers. To be a celebrated thief or criminal was a matter of certain notoriety, but to be a common thief was a matter which surely would not commend itself to the attention of anyone. The Government had made appointments on these Commissions, and the Committee should judge whether or not they were in the public interest. The gentleman to whom the hon. Member objected in this instance was Mr. Loveday. he had nothing to say personally against Mr. Loveday, nor

  455
  did he wish to throw any dirt upon him, but as this was the only opportunity he had of attacking the constitution of the Commission, he was obliged to bring Mr. Loveday's name into the matter. Mr. Loveday was a member of the firm of Messrs. Eckstein, otherwise Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Company, who were nothing more nor less than a common gang of thieves and swindlers. [Order, order!] Hon. Members cried "Order, order." He was prepared to stand an action in the law courts before a jury of his countrymen on that statement. He had already in the public press and in his own constituency made that accusation against Messrs. Barnato Brothers, but had not yet received a writ for libel. The fact he desired to bring before the Committee was that the representatives of these men held every position of importance throughout South Africa. Mr. Loveday was a director in the Pretoria Lighting Company, and the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington on a previous occasion contradicted the statement that he was interested in the concessions.
  MR. LYTTELTON: May I ask what meaning the hon. Member attaches to the word "concessions"?
  MR. MARKHAMreplied that in a book published by Mr. C. S. Goldman (who was connected directly with the firm of Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Company), it was stated that the Pretoria Lighting Company was a concession.
  MR. LYTTELTONsaid that was not quite an answer to his question. What was the meaning the hon. Gentleman himself attached to the word "concession"? There was a perfectly clear meaning to the word in the Transvaal.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid he was not there to go into the meaning of words, and referred the hon. Member to Johnson's Dictionary. He certainly knew the meaning himself perfectly well. Mr. Loveday was a director of this company, which had a concession from the late Transvaal Government. He was also a director of the Transvaal Consolidated Land and Exploration Company,

  456
  and a representative of Mr. Beit in that company. This company owned 2,.357,549 acres of land in the Transvaal. Mr. Loveday appeared also as a director of the Eastleigh Mines, Limited, another worthless company, floated many times over. The Committee must quite understand that he did not accuse Mr. Loveday of being a dishonourable man.
  AN HON. MEMBER: You said he was a member of a firm of thieves and swindlers.
  MR. MARKHAM: I did not say he was a member of a firm of thieves and swindlers; I said he was a director of a. company which Messrs. Eckstein, otherwise Wernher, Beit, and Co., controlled. That is a matter of great distinction. Continuing, the hon. Member said that when the Commission arrived at Cape Town it was met by Mr. Van Hulsteyn, the solicitor of Messrs. Wernher, Beit, and Co., who was immediately appointed to represent the Imperial Government at the sittings of the Commission. By some unknown influence Mr. Van Hulsteyn had been occupying a position in Government House, Cape Town, for which he was not paid. He was, however, paid by Messrs. Eckstein. What happened when the Commission arrived at Pretoria? According to the facts supplied to him, many of the concessions belonging to Messrs. Eckstein were not inquired into. The matter of concessions was one of the most important questions in the Transvaal. As he read the reference, the Concessions Commission was limited solely to the concessions given directly by the late Transvaal Government. But the most important concessions in Swaziland, nearly all belonging to Messrs. Eckstein, were not inquired into at all, though they wore registered in the South African Republic, and also approved of before being registered by the late Transvaal Government. Everything of any note in Swaziland had been ceded by concession-mongers to Messrs. Eckstein. The king in that country, and his advisers, became drunkards and dissolute beings, and these concession-mongers went from all parts of Africa to obtain concessions, and yet this Commission had taken absolutely no notice of most of those concessions. There were many matters in connection with South Africa

  457
  and with this Commission he should like to bring forward, but he would not be in order in so doing. The proceedings of the Commission were, however, reported in a paper called The Friend of the Free State, and therefore he would he in order in referring to what happened at Bloemfontein. On the arrival of the Army at Bloemfontein, the military authorities seized the printing plant of The Friend of the Free State. Shortly afterwards, Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Company obtained control of that paper. No public tenders were called for. and it was the only paper allowed by the authorities to appear in the colony and north of the colony. Why was it Messrs. Eckstein obtained control of that paper? Why was it given to them without any public tenders being called for! It was to their interest to acquire that paper, which they did. He was debarred from dealing with some of these questions, but he wished to say a word or two in this connection. He would read an extract from one of Mr. Eckstein's own papers, which stated —
  "The fact of Mr. Phillip's admission into the firm of Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Co. does not signify his withdrawal from the Hand in addition to his severance from Messrs. H. Eckstein and Co. Messrs. Wernher, Beit and Co. hold a large interest in the Rand through the Eckstein firm, and the change means merely his withdrawal from the 'Corner House' to join the larger firm."
  If such a charge was made by an hon. Member of this House after due and careful consideration of the facts, were the Government going to persist in this policy of granting concessions and appointments to those who had done so much to bring about this unhappy war in South Africa?.' He believed that it was the wish of all sections in this House that there should be a pure administration in South Africa, but if the Colonial Secretary thought he was a match for Wernher, Beit, and Co. and their associated companies, he was very much mistaken. The right hon. Gentleman might be able to twist words into a form to misrepresent the views of his opponents—
  *THE CHAIRMAN: I do not think that expression, applied to the right hon. Gentleman, is one that ought to be used.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid he would withdraw the word "misrepresent,'' and as he was only a novice in Parliament he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would accept his apology. He would only say that the right hon. Gentleman was able to make black white, and white black. He wished to know why this course was persisted in by the Government in spite of the protests they had received from South Africa in regard to the appointments made. Hon. Members opposite might think he had got a crank in his head with regard to those appointments, but if that was their view it was for them to show that the statement was incorrect. He took his stand on the question of principle that the very men who brought about this war, and who had created this corrupt Government in the Transvaal from its commencement, were those men to whom he had referred. These were the innocents "who went out to corrupt Mr. Kruger and his party. Corruption had followed on the methods those financiers adopted. The very future prosperity and happiness of that country depended upon the granting to the people of that equitable form of government against which one word could not be said, and by showing this favouritism they were going a very long way towards bringing this country into perpetual turmoil by appointing men who had not the confidence of the people in South Africa. He did not know whether he should he in order or not. but with the permission of the House he should like to give one example of the kind of roguery which had gone on in South Africa. He held in his hand a document which would send those directors, if they were in this country, into penal servitude for many years.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: Does the hon. Member connect this in any way with the Commission? If he can he will he in order, but not otherwise.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid the only way he could bring it in would he to show that Mr. Loveday was a co-director with a gentleman who was connected as a director with this company. This was one of the swindles which the British public had so long suffered under—the Barnato Consolidated Mines. It might

  459
  interest the British public to know that though the mines had been dealt in to the extent of millions sterling, and represented millions sterling to-day, there was a secret clause in the Articles of Association which gave them, without the public knowing anything about it, 25 per cent. of all the profits the company made. These gentlemen put that Into their pockets.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: I fail to see what connection this has with the personnel of the Commission.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid he would not pursue that point—except in the law courts, if those firms took him there. Unless they did so, the Government should not appoint any more of these firms' representatives directly or indirectly to any position of trust in South Africa. If the Government were prepared to undertake that, his object would be accomplished. He had no axe to grind; he was acting solely in the public interest.
  With regard to the question of the settlement of soldiers on the land, he said there was only one Member of the House who had made attacks on the soldiers of the Empire on anonymous correspondence. That gentleman was the Colonial Secretary. [Oh, oh.] On anonymous correspondence the right hon. Gentleman had charged the soldiers of the Empire with being guilty of little less than murder. Let hon. Members read the book. [Cries of "Quote," and "What book?"] The right hon. Gentleman did not deny the accusation.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I cannot deny the statement, because I do not understand the allusion.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid that on the 1st August, 1879—[Cries of "Oh, oh !"] If the right hon. Gentleman the Colonia Secretary made a statement which was wrong then, it was just as wrong to make that statement in 1900. In that speech the right hon. Gentleman did attack the soldiers of the Empire. Upon that date he moved—
  "That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying Her Majesty to appoint
  460
  a Royal Commission to inquire on the spot into the policy which had led to these and other wars in South Africa, and which has resulted in large annexations of territory and increase of responsibility, in spite of repeated protest from successive British Governments."
  That was the motion made by the Colonial Secretary, and in his speech in support of that motion he quoted the case of the chief named Macomo, who had been declared to be a rebel, and against whom an expedition had been sent. Upon that occasion the right hon. Gentleman said—
  "No attempt was made by the Colonial authorities to reassure the chief (Macomo) or to settle the quarrel amicably, but a large armed force of 1,200 men, consisting of soldiers, free lancers, Fingoes, and others, went at night, burnt all his huts, shot down his people right and left, and carried oft women and children to gaol."
  The right hon. Gentleman further characterised the acts of the expedition as bloody, brutal, foul, barbarous murder, and further declared that "it was high time that the right name should be applied to an action which almost made a man ashamed to be an Englishman."†
  *THE CHAIRMAN: This matter does not seem to be at all relevant. I invite the hon. Gentleman to address himself to the Vote before the Committee.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid he did not wish to trespass further on the indulgence of the House, but if the Government persisted in this policy they would bring about incalculable harm to South Africa, and they would only be serving the interest of a clique, and not the higher and better interests of the people. [No, no.] If he was proved to be wrong in his statements he was prepared to pay, and pay substantially. He now contented himself by moving the reduction of the Vote by £200.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Item. Class 5. Vote 3, be reduced by £200, in respect of the Transvaal Concessions and Land Settlement Commissions."—(Mr. Markham.)
  †The speech of Mr. Chamberlain referred to (1st August, 1879) is reported in The Parliamentary Debates [Third Series, Vol. ccxlviii., page 1853]
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I have listened to the hon. Member's speech with feelings of absolute despair of being able to comprehend the workings of the hon. Gentleman's mind. I hoped that I should come across some reason which would bear some distant reference to the Vote for the two Commissions, upon which Members of the House served, appointed to obtain information with reference to certain matters of considerable importance in South Africa. I learn from the speech of the hon. Gentleman that he views my proceedings and my character with much asperity.
  MR. MARKHAM: Hear, hear.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Well, that again is not itself a conclusive argument against the composition of these Commissions. Then I learn from the hon. Gentleman—and this was a fact which he stated over and over and over again—that he was prepared to face a jury of his countrymen and to repeat outside the House certain statements which he made inside the House. That is very interesting, although it is a kind of bravery which I do not put very high. It must, I think, be rather painful to the House that the privileges of the House should be taken advantage of in order to use such extremely violent and strong language with regard to persons who cannot defend themselves.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid he did not wish to be misrepresented.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: The hon. Gentleman would. I think, have done better if, instead of saying in this House, as a preliminary of the campaign which he apparently is going to conduct, that Messrs. Eckstein, Wernher, Beit and Co. were common thieves and swindlers, and that Messrs. Barnato and Company—I do not know the names of these companies, but I understood him. to say that the firm of Barnato Brothers or the Barnato Consolidated Mine were also common thieves and swindlers—if, before saying that in this House, he had written it outside the House. We should then have known what all this professed anxiety to meet in the law courts meant; but to say
  462
  it in this House and afterwards outside is a very small foundation upon which to found a suit for libel. If the hon. Gentleman has these opinions, let him by all means put them in writing outside the House and let him challenge those persons to prosecute. But, granted for the sake of argument that the charges are true, what on earth has that to do with these two Commissions—the Commission for inquiring into certain concessions granted by the Transvaal Government and the Commission to inquire into the possibility of settling upon the land in South Africa British subjects? The last words of the hon. Gentleman were that when he had been summoned before a jury of his countrymen, and come off with flying colours, then he hoped that we should not persist in a policy which was ruining South Africa. How on earth is the appointment of these Commissions going to ruin South Africa? There is absolutely no relevance whatever between the speech of the hon. Gentleman and the motion before the Committee. Now, really the one pin's point upon which his argument is based is his statement that as regards one of the Commissions we have appointed a gentleman to whom he takes exception, because, he says, he was indirectly or directly connected with a firm which was connected with Wernher, Beit and Company.
  MR. MARKHAM: No; Eckstein.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Which is connected with Eckstein—it is one further off than I thought—which is connected with Wernher, Beit and Company, who he is going to prove are swindlers when they summon him before a jury of his countrymen. It is upon that he has based this tremendous indictment of the South African policy of the Government —it is upon the connection of one member of the Transvaal Concessions Commission. The hon. Gentleman makes it another point of grievance against the Government that the reference to the Commission was not wide enough and did not cover the concessions in Swaziland. That is perfectly true, because a great number of those concessions go back some time and have nothing whatever to do with the immediate point we wish information upon,

  463
  which is the value of the concessions given by the Transvaal Government; and up to the present time we have not assumed any authority in Swaziland. We have not annexed Swaziland. But, as no doubt the question of the future of Swaziland will shortly become one of importance, the hon. Gentleman may take it from me that the concessions in Swaziland will also have to be inquired into.
  MR. MARKHAM: By the same people?
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I do not know whether they will be inquired into by the same people; but I am certain they could not be inquired into by people more qualified than the particular Commission that was asked to examine into the limited question of the value and legality of the concessions which have been granted by the Transvaal. The concessions we have in view were known to all Members of the House. There were complaints made before the war by Uitlanders and others. It was said, for instance, that the dynamite concession was an illegal concession. That was alleged by a committee which was appointed by the Transvaal Government to inquire into the Transvaal concessions. The dynamite concession was perhaps one of the most important concessions. There was the concession to the Netherlands Railway Company, another concession which required inquiry. There was the concession to the Selati Railway Company, which has boon the subject of inquiry in Belgium; and there were scores of concessions forming monopolies the legality of which it was desired to inquire into. It was desired also to inquire into the bona fides of persons who held shares in these concessions, and how far, even if the concession itself was void from some illegality, it would be equitable to respect the rights of persons who might have become shareholders in the concessions in a perfectly fair and legitimate manner. That was the object of this Commission; and the House will see that it is one of the very greatest importance to us, and that it is to the interest of the Government that every concession that is illegal should be exposed, because if it is illegallyand wrongfully granted it may be possible for us
  464
  to dispute it, and, of course, the funds which will thereby fall to the credit of the Transvaal Colony will be of the greatest advantage in the future administration of the State.
  We appointed to that Commission, in the first place, as chairman, my hon. and learned friend the Member for Warwick. The hon. Member for the Mansfield Division, in a sort of universal condemnation of every body concerned, found a supposed connection between Mr. Loveday and Wernher, Beit, and Company. Does the hon. Member attach any portion of his condemnation to the hon. Member for Warwick? My hon. friend requires no defence from me in this House. The second member of the Commission was a valued and valuable member of the Colonial Service, Mr. Ashmore, who had been the Treasurer in Cyprus, a man of most undoubted integrity, of special ability, and of special capacity to deal with the kind of financial subjects which were likely to be brought before the Commission. Is anything said against him, or his honour, or capacity? I am here to defend him. When we had appointed those two gentlemen here, we asked Sir Alfred Milner to nominate someone of authority, of capacity, of local knowledge, who could be adjoined to those two gentlemen and who could assist in the inquiry which we were about to make; and it was in consequence of that that Mr. Loveday was suggested and appointed. I know of nothing, and I challenge the hon, Member, instead of making these very vague accusations, to give something more of a definite shape —I challenge the hon. Gentleman to produce, in this House or out of it, anything which is to the discredit of Mr. Loveday. At all events, I know nothing of that kind. Sir Alfred Milner knows nothing of that sort. As far as we know, he is an honourable man, who is entitled to the position we gave him. Is really every man in the world to be considered as dishonourable, to be spoken of in company with persons who are described as common thieves and swindlers, because, forsooth, he happens to be, or to have been at one time or another, connected with some South African speculation, or with some of those engaged in South African speculation? I think that on

  465
  a previous occasion I heard the hon. Gentleman say that, although he had sold his shares, he had been at one time interested in South African speculation. No one is going; to blame him for that; but surely, if that is the case, he must have been in this indirect way connected with some of these firms.
  MR. MARKHAM: I never have.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I accept the hon. Gentleman's statement. If so, he must have been connected with other capitalist firms.
  MR. MARKHAM: No, never.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Pardon me; the hon. Gentleman does not understand. I understood him to say, and upon that I am basing my observations and argument, that he had been at one time a shareholder in some of these South African speculations and mines.
  MR. MARKHAM: A capitalist and holding capital is a very different thing.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I never referred to him as a capitalist.
  MR. MARKHAM: No; being connected with capitalists.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: If the hon. Gentleman has been at any time a co-shareholder with any of these capitalists, either with Wernher, Beit and Company, or Eckstein or Barnato, or any other of these gentlemen, he is open to precisely the same charge he is bringing against Mr. Loveday. As far as I know, as far as any information which is in my possession goes, the connection, if there was any connection, between Mr. Loveday and these firms was no more direct than such a connection as I have supposed to exist, on his own statement, between the hon. Gentleman and the company of which he was a shareholder.
  I wish to say at once that, while most certainly I have not allowed myself in any way to be influenced by what is called the capitalist element of South Africa—I do not know these gentlemen, I hardly know one of them even by sight; it did not happen to me in
  466
  my way of business to come into any communication with them; they do not come to me upon these matters, and I doubt whether there is any man in this House who really knows less of them than I do—but, while I am not going to allow myself to be influenced by them in the policy which I shall recommend to my colleagues or which the Government will adopt, on the other hand. I do say that I am not going to be precluded from using in any position in South Africa or in this country any man who happens to have been at some time or other connected with some capitalist or another in South Africa. If I were to make such a self-denying ordinance as that, to begin with, I should be cutting myself out from all possibility of gaining the assistance for the Empire in what may still be a very difficult task of the men of the greatest capacity, the greatest energy, and the greatest zeal, and, I need not say, the greatest public spirit, in South Africa. One cannot make such a general statement as that. If the hon. Member knows anything which is really to the discredit of any person who has been appointed either by me or by Sir Alfred Milner, cither to a Commission in this country or to any post in the administration in South Africa, and if he will bring that knowledge before me, I will promise him to have the closest investigation made into the matter; and, if I find his statement to be true, most certainly such person shall be dismissed from that position. But I will not consider it to be a charge that a man has been connected with one of these large firms in South Africa, with whom probably everybody in South Africa has been connected— I will not allow that to be considered a fatal charge which prevents his being employed in any position.
  Another charge has been brought against Mr. Loveday by the hon. Gentleman which might be considered by some to be even more serious— namely, that he was a burgher, a Boer, and was actually fighting a short time ago against the British forces. That has not prevented me from appointing him in the belief that he was the best man, and the man most capable of giving the requisite information in this case. But I think this is a clear proof that it was not our friends we were trying to advan-

  467
  tage in the matter, and that we were seeking from, in fact, the whole populations of South Africa the best men we could find. The hon. Gentleman, who sees Wernher, Beit and Company everywhere, made an allusion to a paper which he says was purchased by Messrs. Eckstein or controlled by Messrs. Eckstein.
  MR. MARKHAM: It was acquired by them.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I accept the word—a paper that was acquired by them. What on earth has that to do with these Commissions, and why should not Messrs. Eckstein acquire a paper if they desire to do so? What business is it of ours who acquires a paper? There are some papers that I would not buy at any price, but if I did buy them I should not think it was the business of this House to complain. I again call the attention of the House to the enormity of the charges which have been brought by the hon. Gentleman, and the extreme slenderness of the base upon which these charges rest All I say is that, so far as I know, there is not a single word in the statement of the hon. Gentleman against the personal character of any of the five men who have been appointed on these two Commissions. If the hon. Gentleman has a different opinion. I call upon him for facts, and not mere statements and indirect insinuations which other people have brought, and of whom I know nothing.
  MR. MARKHAM: The right hon. Gentleman has made white appear black, and black white, as I said he would do. [HON. MEMBERS: Oh, oh!] What I say is, that when the Army appeared at Bloemfontein Messrs. Eckstein suddenly appeared as proprietors of the paper, and that no public tenders had been called for it.
  MR. MALCOLM: I rise to a point of order. I ask whether this subject is relevant to the motion before the Committee,
  *THE CHAIRMAN: It does not appear to be relevant.
  MR. MARKHAM: The right hon. Gentleman has referred to my position
  468
  as being a shareholder, and with the permission of the Committee I would like to point out that, being in business myself, and not having passed from the stage of being a business man to that of a diplomatist like the right hon. Gentleman—[Cries of "Order, order !"]—a shareholder is not in the same position as a man who is an alternate director, acting as the representative of Messrs. Eckstein. [HON. MEMBERS: Yes.] Well, if they do, I am sorry for their business capabilities.
  *MR. LYTTELTON: I certainly do not think it necessary to defend myself against the charge of being a capitalist. [Cries of "There was no charge."] I rise simply for the purpose of saying two or three words with regard to my friend Mr. Loveday, with whom I have been associated for four months, whom I believe to be one of the best and most honourable of men, and whom I know to be absolutely incapable of anything but the most straightforward and honourable action in public, affairs. The hon. Member interpolated a statement that he did not wish to make any charge against Mr. Loveday. His words were that he did not wish to throw dirt at Mr. Loveday. Then what was his object in making that speech? Does he suggest that Mr. Loveday is improperly under the influence of Messrs. Eckstein? [Cries from the Government Benches of "Answer."]
  MR. MARKHAM: I will consider that.
  *MR. LYTTELTON: Does the hon. Member intend, or does he not intend, to convey to the Committee that Mr. Loveday was under the improper influence of Messrs. Eckstein? If he does not intend to convey that to the Committee, then his observations were irrelevant and impertinent. But if the hon. Member has not the courage to say in this House whether he intends to make that charge, but shelters himself behind one of those generalities, unfortunately too common nowadays, of desiring "not to throw dirt," then I must suppose that the hon. Member was neither irrelevant nor impertinent, but that he was merely inaccurate, and that he did make a charge, and that the purport of his words was in truth and

  469
  in fact that Mr. Loveday was under the improper influence of Messrs. Eckstein. Let me examine that. It is perfectly true that Mr. Loveday was a director of the Electric Lighting Company of Pretoria. Is everybody who is a director of a company in which another person has an interest under the improper influence of that person? I think not. But I have better evidence in regard to this matter in favour of Mr. Loveday than that. Mr. Loveday was a director of the Pretoria Water Company, in which Messrs. Eckstein had a large interest. The question of the validity of that concession came up long before the Commission got to South Africa—I think it was in 1898—and Mr. Loveday, notwithstanding that he was supposed by the hon. Gentleman, in his ignorance, to be under the influence of Messrs. Eckstein, was the prime mover in the Volksraad of the Transvaal in procuring the cancellation of the concession. The hon. Gentleman opposite bows his head, so that he knew that.
  MR. MARKHAMassented.
  *MR. LYTTELTON: What does the Committee think of the candour of the hon. Member who comes to this House and accuses Mr. Loveday, who was doing honourable service in the Transvaal long before the hon. Member was ever heard of—
  MR. MARKHAM: There was no concession at all.
  *MR. LYTTELTON: There was a concession. What does the House think of the candour of the hon. Member making such a charge against an honourable man as that he is under the improper influence of Messrs. Eckstein, and not disclosing to the House the fact, which he knows, that Mr. Loveday's exertions were devoted to procuring the cancellation of the concession in which Messrs. Eckstein were primarily interested? I speak with no warmth about myself. I can well afford to pass by the observations of the hon. Gentleman. I am satisfied that no such charges as have been made against this Commission, over which I have the honour to pre-
  470
  side, would have been made except by a new Member, and I grant to the hon. Gentleman the indulgence for which he so repeatedly craved, and which is always extended to new Members for having done so.
  MR. T. P. O'CONNORsaid he understood this Vote referred to the mission of the hon. Member for West Belfast to South Africa. It was somewhat remarkable that the Committee should be asked to vote money for a Commission before any Report had been presented by it, or any statement made by the hon. Gentleman who was a member of it. He had seen no Report, public or private, as to what the hon. Member for West Belfast had done in South Africa. He understood the hon. Gentleman took some evidence, but none of that evidence was before the House, and it seemed to him very extraordinary that in these circumstances they should be asked to vote this money. He was entitled to express surprise because this was a question on which, as an Irishman, he felt very strongly. He understood that the object of the hon. Gentleman was to promote something of the nature of what was called in the history of Ireland "the plantation of Ulster"—the plantation of the land of the Boers by people from this country. He did not know how far he would be entitled to discuss the merits of such a, policy on this Vote, but he might say that, if there was any tragic page in the history of Ireland which was stained with war, bloodshed, and fury more than another, it was the record of the confiscation of the lands of the original inhabitants and the plantation of them by people of another race and religion. He pressed upon the right hon. Gentleman the Colonial Secretary not to make the task of the settlement of the Transvaal and the Orange River Colonies more difficult by introducing into them a people of foreign origin or by adopting a policy of confiscation and spoliation. He had not been in South Africa himself, but he had spoken to many gentlemen who had been there, and he was informed that the portion of country over which the hon. Member for West Belfast had conducted his investigations

  471
  was not eminently suited for the settlement of men of a new race. The life there must be pastoral, and any men that we could send out from this country would find it absolutely intolerable. Therefore he called upon the right hon. Gentleman to utter a warning to the many thousands of people in this country who were contemplating going to these new States, that they would not find in the pastoral districts a favourable sphere for their energies or the investment of their capital.
  SIR J. FERGUSSON, on a point of order, said that an Amendment had already been moved on this Vote, and it did not seem to him to be a very convenient course to begin debate on a new subject until that Amendment had been disposed of.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: If the right hon. Gentleman will look at the Paper he will find on page 4 that the Section begins "O.—Transvaal Concessions and Land Settlement Commissions." What has fallen from the hon. Gentleman is pertinent to that section, and therefore it can be raised on the Amendment before the Committee.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: I can satisfy the hon. Member in a very few sentences. In the first place, I express surprise at his surprise that the Vote appears in this form before the Report of the Commission has been issued. It is a most common occurrence, when the work of a Commission extends over a considerable period, that a Vote should be taken for their expenses, and that is the case here.
  MR. T. P. O'CONNOR: I am quite willing to defer discussion if the opportunity will come later on.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: The hon. Gentleman cannot discuss his particular point now. We are not considering the policy of the Commission—that will come on at a later date. In a case of this kind we sent out a Commission of Inquiry, and we shall have to consider whether the evidence and Report shall be published. Of course, they will be published if we proceed upon them;
  472
  but the matter must be considered along with Sir Alfred Milner. I think it may relieve the mind of the hon. Member if I say that there is no intention on the part of the Government to repeat the experiment of "the plantation of Ulster," whatever we may do.
  SIR JOHN BRUNNERsaid that he understood some one had procured the concession from the Transvaal Government for the supply of water and gas to Pretoria, and he wanted to know who was in possession of that concession now.
  AN HON. MEMBER: "A concession" for waterworks.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: Order, order ! This concession has nothing to do with the Vote under discussion.
  SIR JOHN BRUNNER: I always endeavour to keep in order. We all know that when a concession is given, it is merely handed over to another party at a big profit. What I want to know is, who is in possession now of the waterworks concession.
  MR. LYTTELTON: Exclusive powers were granted to concessionaires in 1897, and the Committee of the Volksraad cancelled these exclusive powers in 1898. The suggestion of the Committee of the Volksraad was that a valuation of the concession to the waterworks company should be made, and that the power of supplying water to Pretoria should be entrusted to the municipality.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGEasked whether it would not be in order, in discussing the recommendations of the Commission for settling soldiers in the Transvaal, to discuss the policy of appointing that Commission at all.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: Certainly anything as to the appointment and personnel of the Commission would be in order.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGE: Or the desirability of appointing the Commission, at all?
  *TIIE CHAIRMAN: Yes.
  MR. DALYsaid that it seemed to him that £7,800 was a very large sum for the Committee to vote without any statement being made with regard to it, and he was not inclined to allow the Vote to pass without opposition. He could not see that much trouble would arise if this matter was postponed until the details were before the House, and he thought that, if it was desired that the wheels of Parliament should revolve more freely, the Government would be well advised to postpone this Vote until such time as the details were available. If the Vote was allowed to pass on this occasion, the Committee would have no further opportunity of discussing the matter, therefore their only opportunity was to inquire now closely into the way in which the money had been spent. The statement which had been made with regard to this matter had been satisfactory to nobody. He, personally, had never before heard so laboured a statement. He had been absolutely amazed at the crudeness of the speech of the right hon. Gentleman, who had asked the House to pass this Vote without giving any explanation whatever. The point the House desired to know was what the concessions were. The right hon. Gentleman surely did not think the House was so simple as to pass this amount of money without knowing what the concessions were in Part 2, which had reference to the possibility of settling soldiers in South Africa. He did not approve of large sums like this being voted upon such meagre information as had been given to the House. If the right hon. Gentleman saw his way to explain this matter fully, it might be possible to get the Vote through, but in the absence of any explanation he did not think hon. Members would be justified in passing the Vote, and he should certainly oppose it.
  MR. LLOYD-GEORGEsaid the Committee was very often called upon to vote money for Commissions and matters of that kind before the Reports of the Commissions were published. But with regard to other Commissions, half the evidence had usually been published, either in the newspapers or in the House; whereas in this case they had no informa-
  474
  tion, either in the papers or otherwise. The question he wished to put was whether any evidence had been taken by the Commission, and if so, when it was likely to be printed, and whether it was complete. If it was, it was quite time that the Report should have been published. He had great doubts as to the wisdom of the policy of appointing this Commission at all. It would only exasperate the Boers, and lead them to protract the war to the utmost. All sorts of reports had been circulated among them, and on the top of all these was this Commission appointed to consider whether we could not settle troops in South Africa. Before we could give the farms to our troops somebody would have to be expatriated, and he could only condemn the unwisdom of appointing a Commission which would give the Boers the idea that our object in prosecuting this war was not to give equal rights to all, but to obtain not only the gold mines but the country as well. Hon. Members had probably, like himself, read articles which distinctly recommended that, the Boers having now practically become rebels, their farms should be forfeited and given to the Yeomanry. If there was anything calculated to keep the Boers in arms it was such a thing as this. If they were under the impression that their farms would be taken away and given to the English troops, he ventured to say that even a nation of arrant cowards would fight to the last kopje before they would give in. The appointment of the Commission was one of those foolish things which had been done first of all to lead to the war, and afterwards to prolong and embitter it. As the result of this policy there, no doubt, would be the idea in the minds of the Boers that there would be a Cromwellian settlement all over the country. If that was so, it would be the result of the official acts of this country. Ho believed the right hon. Gentleman was fully convinced of the unwisdom of his act, although, no doubt, when he entered upon it he thought the Boer war was over, and now the Commission had come over and had said that the whole thing was impossible He was perfectly convinced that this Commission would cost not only the amount of the Vote—£7,800—but millions of money, as it would make the

  475
  Boers fight to the last. There was no one more responsible for prolonging the war than the right hon. Gentleman himself. He (Mr. Lloyd-George) should support the motion for reduction.
  MR. J.CHAMBERLAIN MR. J.CHAMBERLAIN moved, "That the Question be now put." At the same moment MR. MARKHAM rose.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: Does the hon. Member wish to withdraw his Amendment?
  MR. MARKHAM: Yes, Sir. The hon. Member, continuing, said that he had no desire to make an attack on the hon. and learned Member for Warwick.
  MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: I wish to ask you, Sir, whether, the closure having been moved and accepted, the hon. Member is entitled to withdraw his motion.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: The hon. Member is entitled to say why he wishes to withdraw it.
  MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN: But you had accepted the closure.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: The hon. Member evidently expected me to accept it. I call upon Mr. Markham.
  MR. MARKHAMsaid that it was his last wish to cast any reflections, either directly or indirectly, upon the conduct of the hon. Member for Warwick. With regard to Mr. Loveday, ho did not accuse him nor make any charge whatsoever against him. With the permission of the Committee, therefore, ho would withdraw his Amendment. [Nationalist cries of "No, no."] Then he might be permitted to say that, so far as he was concerned, in case it should be taken as casting an imputation upon the conduct of the hon. Member for Warwick, he should take no part in the division.
  MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN: Then, Sir, I move, "That the Question be now put."
  Question put, "That the Question be now put."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 195; Noes, 93. (Division List No. 72.)

  AYES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir A. F.

  Cavendish, V. C. W. (Derbysh.)

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Fitzroy; Hon. Edward A.

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Foster, Sir M. (London Univ.)

  Allhusen, Augustus H. Eden

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. J. (Birm.

  Garfit, William

  Anson, Sir William Reynell

  Chamberlain, J Austen (Worc'r

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fred.

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Chapman, Edward

  Gordon, Hn J. E. (Elgin&Nairn)

  Arkwright, John Stanhope

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Gorst, Rt. Hon. Sir John E.

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Clare, Octavius Leigh

  Goulding, Edward Alfred

  Arrol, Sir William

  Cochrane, Hon. T. H. A. E.

  Gray, Ernest (West Ham)

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Cohen, Benjamin Louis

  Greene, Sir E W (B'rySEdm'nds

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Colston, Charles E. H. Athole

  Greene, H. D. (Shrewsbury)

  Austin, Sir John

  Cook, Sir Frederick Lucas

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.)

  Bailey, James (Walworth)

  Corbett, A. Cameron (Glasgow

  Greville, Hon. Ronald

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Cox, Irwin E. Bainbridge

  Groves, James Grimble

  Balcarres, Lord

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton

  Baldwin, Alfred

  Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

  Ham, Edward

  Balfour, Rt. Hn. A. J. (Manch'r)

  Cross, H. Shepherd (Bolton)

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Bartley, George C. T.

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Hamilton, Rt Hn Lord G. (Mid'x

  Bathurst, Hon. Allen Benjamin

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Hamilton, Marq. of (L'nd'nderry

  Beach, Rt Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol)

  Davies, Sir H. D. (Chatham)

  Hanbury, Rt. Hon. Robt. W.

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Dewar, T. R. (T'rH'ml'ts,S.Geo.

  Harris, F. L. (Tynemouth)

  Bhownaggree, Sir M. M.

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Harwood, (George

  Bignold, Arthur

  Digby, John K. D. Wingfield-

  Haslam, Sir Alfred S.

  Bigwood, James

  Dilke, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles

  Haslett, Sir James Horner

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph C.

  Heath, Arthur Howard (Hanley

  Bond, Edward

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Heath, James (Staffords, N. W.

  Brassey, Albert

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Helder, Augustus

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Doxford, Sir Wm. Theodore

  Higginbottom, S. W.

  Brookfield, Col. Montagu

  Duke, Henry Edward

  Hoare, Edw Brodie (Hampstead

  Brown, Geo. M. (Edinburgh)

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  Hogg, Lindsay

  Bull, William James

  Faber, George Denison

  Hope, J F. (Sheffield, Brightside

  Burdett-Coutts, W.

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Hoult, Joseph

  Carson, Rt. Hon. Sir Edw. H.

  Finch, George H.

  Howard, Capt J (Kent, Faversh.

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  Hudson, George Bickersteth

  Hutton, John (Yorks, N.R.)

  Morton, Arthur H. A. (Deptford

  Smith, James Parker(Lanarks.

  Jebb, Sir Richard Claverhouse

  Murray, Rt Hn A. Graham (Bute

  Spear, John Ward

  Kennaway, Rt. Hn. Sir John H.

  Murray, Col. Wyndham (Bath.

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs.)

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop.

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander

  Stewart, Sir Mark J. M'Taggart

  King, Sir Henry Seymour

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Stock, James Henry

  Lambton, Hon. Frederick Wm.

  Orr-Ewing, Charles Lindsay

  Stone, Sir Benjamin

  Laurie, Lieut-General

  Palmer, Walter (Salisbury)

  Stroyan, John

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Parkes, Ebenezer

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Lawson, John Grant

  Partington, Oswald

  Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napier

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Leveson-Gower, Frederick N. S.

  Pierpoint, Robert

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Long, Rt. Hn. Walter (Bristol, S.

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Lowe, Francis William

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Valentia, Viscount

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Vincent, Cl. Sir C. E. H(Sheffield

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Purvis, Robert

  Walker, Col. Wm. Hall

  Lyttelton, Hon. Alfred

  Randles, John S.

  Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Rankin, Sir James

  Wason, John C. (Orkney)

  Maconochie, A. W.

  Rasch, Major Frederic Carne

  Webb, Colonel William George

  M'Arthur, Charles (Liverp'l)

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Welby, Lt. Col. A.C.E. (Tauntn

  M'Killop, James (Stirlingshire

  Renshaw, Charles Bine

  Whiteley, H. (Ashton-u-Lyne

  Markham, Arthur Basil

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Williams, Colonel R. (Dorset)

  Maxwell, W.J. H. (Dumfriessh.

  Renwick, George

  Wilson, John (Falkirk)

  Mildmay, Francis Bingham

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

  Wilson, J. W. (Worcestersh, N.)

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Wilson-Todd, Wm. H.(Yorks.)

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Saunderson, Rt Hn. Col. Edw. J.

  Wolff, Gustay Wilhelm

  More, Root. Jasper (Shropshire

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Wrightson, Sir Thomas

  Morgan, David J. (Walthamst.

  Simeon, Sir Barrington

  Young, Commander (Berks, E.)

  Morgan, Hn. Fred, (Monm'thsh.

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Skewes-Cox, Thomas

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, East)

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Smith, HC (North'um. Tynes'de

  NOES.

  Abraham, Wm. (Cork, N. F.)

  Goddard, Daniel Ford

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Grant, Corrie

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  Allan, William (Gateshead)

  Hammond, John

  O'Dowd, John

  Barlow, John Emmott

  Harmsworth, R. Leicester

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Kelly, Jas. (Roscommon, N.)

  Bayley, Thomas (Derbyshire)

  Hemphill, Rt. Hon. Chas. H.

  O'Malley, William

  Bell, Richard

  Holland, William Henry

  O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

  Boyle, James

  Jameson, Major J. Eustace

  Reddy, M.

  Brigs, John

  Jones, William (Carnarvons.)

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Broadhurst, Henry

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  Rigg, Richard

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Joyce, Michael

  Roche, John

  Burt, Thomas

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Roe, Sir Thomas

  Came, William Sproston

  Kitson, Sir James

  Shipman, Dr. John G.

  Caldwell, James

  Layland-Barratt, Francis

  Sullivan, Donal

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Leamy, Edmund

  Taylor, Theodore Cooke

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Leng, Sir John

  Thomas, A. (Glamorgan, E.)

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Levy, Maurice

  Thomas, J. A. Glam., Gower

  Crean, Eugene

  Lewis, John Herbert

  Thompson, E. C. (Monaghan, N.

  Daly, James

  Lloyd-George, David

  Trevelyan, Charles Philips

  Davies, Alfred (Carmarthen)

  Lough, Thomas

  Tully, Jasper

  Doogan, P. C.

  Lundon, W.

  Wason, Eugene (Clackmannan

  Dully, William J.

  Macnamara, Dr. Thomas J.

  Weir, James Galloway

  Duncan, James H.

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  White, George (Norfolk)

  Dunn, Sir William

  M'Kenna, Reginald

  White, Luke (York, E. R.)

  Emmott, Alfred

  Mansfield, Horace Rendall

  Whitley, J. H. (Halifax)

  Farquharson, Dr. Robert

  Morton, Edw. J. C. (Devonport)

  Williams, Osmond (Merioneth)

  Farrell, James Patrick

  Moss, Samuel

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  Fenwick, Charles

  Murphy, J.

  Young, Samuel (Cavan, East)

  Ffrench, Peter

  Norton, Capt. Cecil William

  Yoxall, James Henry

  Fitzmaurice, Lord Edmond

  O'Brien, James F. X. (Cork)

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Captain Donelan and Mr. Patrick O'Brien.

  Furness, Sir Christopher

  O'Brien, K. (Tipperary, Mid)

  Gilhooly, James

  O'Connor, Jas. (Wicklow, W.)

  Question, "That the Item, Class 5, Vote 3, be reduced by £200, in respect of the Transvaal Concessions and Land Settlement Commissions," put accordingly, and negatived.
  Original Question again proposed.
  Attention called to the fact that forty Members were not present. House

  479
  counted; and, forty Members being found present—

  BRITISH EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE.
  *SIR CHARLES DILKEsaid the British East African Protectorate had a finance of the strangest description. It was, he believed, the only subject on the Civil Service Estimates in regard to which there was always a Supplementary Estimate, and that Supplementary Estimate generally largely exceeded in amount the original Estimate for the year. That made this Protectorate unique in its finance. That it was no exaggeration to say there was always a Supplementary Estimate was shown by the fact that there were two Estimates each year in 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, and also this year. Financial purists who objected to Supplementary Estimates would find this case certainly by far the strongest that existed in the Estimates, and doubtless notice would be taken of it. Different reasons were given in different years by the Foreign Office for the Supplementary Estimate. Sometimes the Committee were frankly told that it was in consequence of deficiency on revenue, and at other times, as on the present occasion, that it was due to wars. But each year when the Appropriation accounts appeared there was always a muddle of the finances of the protectorate—wars, the ordinary pay and upkeep of the troops in time of peace, police, justice, charges which ought really to appear in the Uganda Railway Vote, telegraph charges—all were muddled together in the most inextricable fashion, and he was afraid that those accounts had hardly justified in past years the particular explanations which had been given of the Supplementary Estimates. In 1900 there was a very large Supplementary Estimate, mostly accounted for by wars, and the then Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs promised that there would be a very great reduction in the Estimates this year. As the Committee could see, however, by the large Supplementary Vote now before them, and the ordinary Vote in the Estimates, the promise had not been kept. The explanation was that the Foreign Office had been carrying on officially and publicly two wars, and, ho believed, a third war had, as a matter
  480
  of fact, been raging, but of that the Committee had no information. The Appropriation Accounts showing the allocation in past years of the two Votes—the Supplementary and the ordinary—for this protectorate brought together a most curious collection of items, including compensation to slave-owners. He mentioned that in case the Under Secretary of State could give the Committee any information in regard to it.
  This protectorate presented the very worst specimen of either colonial or protectorate finance appearing in the Accounts. Even Uganda, which had had a curious financial history, had not involved this constant supremacy of the Supplementary over the ordinary Estimate. The wars to which the excesses were attributed were conducted by an Office, the real duty of which was not to carry on wars, but to conduct the diplomatic and consular business of the country. The bettor one thought of the Foreign Office, the more fit one thought it was for its task, the less one wished that it should have this sort of business on its hands. The foreign affairs of this country were sufficiently complicated, and the demands on the attention of the Foreign Office in regard to China and other parts of the world were quite enough, without that Office being called upon either to administer protectorates or to engage armies and carry on wars. There was nothing in which this country differed more from every other country than in the fact that here we had Colonial Office armies. Foreign Office armies, the Indian Army-employed in Africa, and a medley of troops and war expenditure charged on the Civil Service Estimates—all entirely outside the control of the War Office, both as regards the command and the composition of the forces. The Foreign Office could not provide generals, but had to hire its troops, to some extent, and its officers, very largely, from the War Office and the India Office to carry on these wars, with the result that there were these Supplementary Estimates year after year. The concealment, both of the finance and of the wars, was very considerable. The country was not allowed the ordinary sources of information. Those who served the Foreign Office on that coast were not permitted to make

  481
  any statement as to what was passing, and very little indeed was known in this country as to what really did occur. In the past the country had gradually become aware of much that passed on that coast; in the course of time people heard the details of the wars, and of the troubles which led to those wars, from two sources—the Primitive Methodist missionaries and the Church of England missionaries in East Africa.
  He desired to ask the Under Secretary of State whether he was able to report to the House any change in the views of the Government as to the future of this strip of territory? Might the country look to the Foreign Office contemplating the possibility of divesting themselves of the control and the government of this laud? The original reasons given for the Foreign Office holding such places at all was that complications might arise with other countries. But there was much less risk nowadays of complications with foreign countries on the British East African coast than in almost any other part of the world in which this country was interested. Sir Arthur Hardinge, having received the promotion he deserved, had been replaced by another officer in chief command. Sir Arthur Hardinge held very peculiar views, which he frankly stated both publicly and privately. The Committee desired to know, with regard to the future of this territory, what chance there was that the promises by which the Government were supposed to be bound, under the advice of Sir Arthur Hardinge. would be gradually got rid of. In British East Africa we were supposed to be obliged to tolerate an exceptional condition of affairs, in order to avoid risings and petty wars. We had recognised the institution of slavery to a degree in which we had never recognised it in any other part of the world, and had been told this was necessary to avoid troubles with Arab chiefs. But risings had not been avoided, year by year the Committee were asked to vote largo sums of money—£200,000, £300,000, and sometimes £400,000—for these wretched little wars with the very Arab chiefs who were supposed to be conciliated by the promises which had been made. He had always denied that any promise had been made which was different from the ordinary pledges which
  482
  had been given over and over again, and which were not supposed to commit us to any recognition of slavery. The promise which was made when we took over the government, not by anyone sent out from home, but by a junior officer in the Navy who became Prime Minister to the Sultan of Zanzibar, was that for the future we would observe the laws and customs of the country. Such promises had been made hundreds of times in India, but had never been supposed to commit us to a recognition—certainly not for a prolonged period—of the status of slavery. The Secretary of State, who was supposed to have authorised the promise, had stated publicly that he had never intended such a promise to be made, or one in any way committing us as to the future. The facts that had been revealed from time to time as to the slavery in the protectorate were such that he asked whether the time had not now come when the Government could give some pledge as to the future. If we were not able to avoid these worrying little wars, involving the payment of such large sums of money, at all events we should abolish the legal status of slavery in British East Africa as we had abolished it in every other part of the Empire. In order to get a statement from the Under Secretary of State he moved to reduce the Vote by £1,000.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Item, Class 5, Vote 2, be reduced by £1,000, in respect of British East Africa."—(Sir Charles Dilke.)
  *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount CRANBORNE, Rochester), who was very imperfectly heard in the gallery, was understood to express the opinion that the right hon. Baronet the Member for the Forest of Dean was over-suspicious with regard to the Supplementary Estimate under discussion. The right hon. Gentleman had said that various excuses were put forward year after year, and he apparently had no very great confidence that the reasons put forward for the extra expenditure altogether corresponded to the facts.
  *SIR CHARLES DILKE: They are not complete.
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: Personally, I am not conscious of any incompleteness. The right hon. Gentleman had a very great experience of public affairs, and the noble Lord confessed that his suspicious attitude made him somewhat uncomfortable as to how affairs were arranged in the older days. On the present occasion he came before the Committee quite frankly, without any arrière pensee whatever, and asked that they should find the money necessary for the particular war we had undertaken in East Africa. Before going into the particulars of that expedition, however, he would refer briefly to the general matters about which the right hon. Gentleman had spoken. Those matters were, if he might say so, entirely irrelevant to the Vote before the Committee, because money was taken only for the particular subject referred to.
  The right hon. Gentleman had said that the finance of the protectorate was always in the greatest confusion; that the expedients adopted by the Foreign Office were almost chaotic in their character; and that troops were borrowed from anywhere to carry on these wars. It was perfectly true that one part of the British Empire went to another part to obtain assistance, but that was one of the great advantages of belonging to a great organisation like the British Empire—that one part could help another. But it was not at all the fact that the Foreign Office authorities had nothing to rely upon themselves. There were a series of bodies of troops, some in Central Africa, some in Uganda, and some in British East Africa, and before long there would be some in Somali-land also. The right hon. Gentleman stated that no information was given to the House of Commons as to what occurred in this protectorate. The reason so little was heard of these small expeditions was that in the midst of all the great events of the British Empire they were really of only slight public interest. What was it that gave the House and the country information as to the war in South Africa? It was the presence of special correspondents on the spot. Would anybody suggest that any of our great newspapers would be well-advised in sending special correspondents to watch these punitive expeditions? Of
  484
  course they would not, and consequently that great source of information was not available. The same amount of secrecy as was undoubtedly necessary in foreign affairs was not requisite in regard to these expeditions, and the right hon. Gentleman had only to place questions on the Paper; he would find no reluctance on the part of the Foreign Office to reply fully. The only reason Papers had not been laid on the Table concerning affairs in East Africa was that the information was not yet complete, and, considering the small amount of matter in hand, it was thought to be wiser to wait until full and complete despatches had been received. If, however, the Committee was very anxious about the matter, there probably would be no unwillingness to lay on the Table the incomplete papers.
  The right hon. Gentleman had referred to the question of slavery, but that had nothing to do with this Vote, and the war which had been undertaken had nothing whatever to do with slavery. Slavery was a very important question; it had been debated over and over again in the House, the position of the Government had been several times stated, and he (the noble Lord) would be prepared to deal with the question on the proper occasion. The particular war in British East Africa to which the right hon. Gentleman had referred was in Jubaland, whereas the other had to do with Somali-land, and it was for these two wars that the Committee were asked to provide this money. The war in Jubaland had nothing to do with slavery, but, as so often happened, with a case of murder. The British Agent, Mr. Jenner, a most valuable public servant, had great sympathy with the people among whom ho moved. He unfortunately had too much confidence in his influence over the people, and consequently trusted them in a way which was now a cause of regret. It appeared that he had some difference with a chief who was accused of complicity in a crime which had been committed a little while previously, and for which a certain amount of punishment had been imposed by Mr. Jenner. In consequence, this chief conceived a great hatred for Mr. Jenner, and, in concert with another chief, waited for a favourable opportunity for revenge. At the end of November, Mr. Jenner, with only a small escort, went up country for

  485
  surveying purposes; lie was followed and murdered. When a British officer in the execution of his duty was murdered, the first duty of the Government was to sec that that murder was promptly avenged, and hence this expedition. The total force, when it moved off. numbered about 1.500 men. These troops took a little time to get together, as some had to be obtained from India, and then they bad to be properly rationed, and everything else made ready. They marched some distance up the valley of the Juba, and then fifty-seven miles in a north-westerly direction, when they were suddenly attacked by Ogadens. and. as small expeditions go, a really sanguinary battle ensued. He was sorry to say that amongst those who were killed on the British side were Colonel Maitland and another officer. The difficulties of the country were very great. They could hear the enemy talking on each side of them, so close did they get to them without being seen. The flying column behaved admirably under such circumstances. They had not yet received the written reports from the officers in command in regard to what actually happened, and he anxiously awaited those reports, which would immediately be laid on the Table. With regard to the future, certain precautions were going to be taken, and if all went well there ought to be no more fighting. Of course it was impossible to make expeditions without paying for them, and the long and short of this Vote was that the Committee were now asked to vote the money for that purpose. It was an absolutely unexpected expedition which was forced upon the Government, and no amount of businesslike capacity on the part of the Foreign Office or on the part of the Colonial Office could have led them to foresee that Mr. Jenner would be murdered in November. Consequently, no amount of foresight could have avoided the expedition.
  MR. SYDNEY BUXTON: I wish to congratulate the noble Lord upon the very accurate knowledge which he appears to possess upon this subject. I agree with him to this extent—that a murder was committed of a British officer, and that entailed a punitive expedition, and that has been successful; but. unfortunately, it has
  486
  entailed considerable loss on our side and on the other side. I do not think that the noble Lord representing the Foreign Office was entirely justified in putting aside the very pertinent remarks made by my right hon. friend. Though this Estimate may have been necessary, what we complain of is that, with the exception of the speech just made by the noble Lord, we have had no explanation of the circumstances which rendered this expenditure necessary. With these large amounts perpetually occurring the Government give us cause to complain; that this country is put to large expense in regard to these protectorates, and we have no proper opportunity of controlling this expenditure. To that point the noble Lord made no reply at all. This is not only the case in regard to warlike operations, but also in regard to other matters. It is not in order now to discuss that unfortunate Uganda railway, but whether it is in regard to war or to railways the Government show the same un business like qualities which have followed their operations in British East Africa. I agree with the right hon. Baronet the Member for the Forest of Dean that the time has come when such questions as this should come under the control of the Colonial Office, and should not remain in the hands of the Foreign Office. It is clear that in the earlier stages of these spheres of influence and protectorates when they have to be delimitated they should be in the hands of the Foreign Office, but when there is no question of delimitation they should be under the control of the Colonial Office. I am not pressing the noble Lord to hand this over to the Colonial Office, because we had information given to us in regard to that Office last night which did not commend itself to my views at all. I think it must he acknowledged that the natural place for a colony is to be under the Colonial Office, and not the Foreign Office. The noble Lord declined to discuss a qusstion which I think is pertinent and of great importance, and that is the question in regard to the legal status of slavery in East Africa, which still remains.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: As this money is only taken for a military expedition, a discussion of the legal status of slavery will not be in order.
  MR. SYDNEY BUXTON: All I will say upon that point is that I hope the noble Lord will give this matter his best attention, and not be too much bound by the action of his predecessor. As regards this Supplementary Vote I shall not oppose it, but I hope the noble Lord will be able to look into the finances of British East Africa and see that these perpetual Votes are not so constantly recurring under his auspices.
  *MR. M'KENNA (Monmouthshire, N.)said that if the noble Lord would turn to the last report of the Comptroller and Auditor General he would find that the accounts in previous years for this particular Vote had not been sent in with full details at all. A considerable number of vouchers had been lost, and the figures were merely reminiscent of what the facts might have been. He thought the whole question of the British Protectorate of East Africa could not be considered merely in the light of what it had cost in the present year. He proposed to recall to the mind of the Committee what were the hopes with which the Government went into British East Africa and how year after year those hopes had been falsified. They took over the territory in 1895, and the representative of the Foreign Office in this House at that time told the Committee that the estimated cost would be £30,000 a year. The Colonial Secretary also spoke at that time, and described this protectorate as a vast and fertile territory where we should ultimately establish the Pax Britannica, which would enable the people to live quietly together and engage in agricultural and other pursuits. he hoped this Committee before it sanctioned this Estimate would realise how far those hopes of successful agricultural pursuits and the establishment of the Pax Britannica had been justified by the course of events. In 189C the original Estimate was £30,000, but the Supplementary Estimate for that year amounted to £20,975; in 1897 the original Estimate exceeded the former original Estimate and the Supplementary Estimate put together, for it amounted to £65,000, and this was followed by a Supplementary Estimate of £36,700. In the year 1898 the amount asked for was £75,000, and
  488
  this was followed by yet another Supplementary Estimate of £35,000. In the year 1899 £90,000 was asked for, and this was followed by a Supplementary Estimate of £54,000. In the year 1900 the original Estimate was' £99,000, to which was added a smaller Supplementary Estimate, this time of £11,000. In 1901 the original Estimate was £87,000, but the Supplementary Estimate which they were now discussing amounted to £140,000. Therefore, this country, which was to cost £30,000 a year, was costing £227,000 for this year alone, and every single year since England first took it over the original estimated cost had been enormously exceeded, and never less than doubled. In return for this expenditure the trade they got was nothing approaching the vast amount of money which had been expended in this protectorate. Every penny of these Supplementary Estimates had been voted not in the peaceful development of the country; not to establish the Pax Britannica, but in carrying war into the homes of the natives. Were they wise in continuing a policy which had falsified every one of their hopes and belied all their calculations, and which had shown every official prophecy on the subject to have been wrong?. Mr. Jenner had been killed, and it was the duty of the British Government to take such measures as wore necessary to secure the safety of the British Residents there in the future. But the point to be considered was, in his opinion, whether they were wise in sending British Residents into those territories at all, for the cost of protecting them there far exceeded anything which they might expect to get in return. If his right hon. friend proceeded to a division he should certainly support him in the Lobby. They were having these unexpected and unexplained Estimates hurled at their heads too often. The hon. Member for Poplar had shown that this result was mostly due to placing the control and management of these protectorates in the hands of a Department which was not suited for the work. Was it wise, prudent, or businesslike to take the administration of these territories out of the hands of the Department which possessed trained people to do that particular work? He remembered that

  489
  the present Secretary of State for War promised the House he would not have a Supplementary Estimate this year for Uganda. He was able to do so with confidence, because, as has since appeared, he knew that the Foreign Office Army was fully occupied elsewhere. Evidently, the Foreign Office meant to show that they could have their little wars as well as the Colonial Office.
  MR. J. P. FARRELLsaid that the part of the Empire which he represented would not be benefited by the expenditure of these enormous sums for this most unfortunate expedition. He did not know of a single case where the loss of one life had cost so much to the country. This officer wont into that country without escort and without any military protection, knowing that his life was in danger, and he undertook this survey and was murdered by this chief who had vindictive feelings towards him. The result was this punitive expedition, and because one British official had lost his life some forty troops had been killed or wounded on our side and some 400 of the enemy had been destroyed. No less than 400 people had been killed in order to avenge the death of one officer, and the sum of £140,000 had been placed upon the taxes of this country. He could not congratulate the Government upon this way of establishing the Pax Britannica. The country had been called the white man's grave, for it was very marshy, and malarial fever there was most deadly. What did England gain by all this? The hon. Gentleman who had just spoken had proved that in trade they received nothing like an adequate return for this expenditure. They must arrive at the conclusion that the policy of the Government in this respect had been extravagant and had not been successful, and instead of benefiting British trade it had been a great failure. He thought the claim that they should abandon such a policy was a reasonable and just one. In Ireland they got no benefit whatever, and this policy increased their taxes in a shocking and extravagant manner. The facts placed before the Committee that evening were startling in the highest degree. He had always understood that slavery was not tolerated in any country
  490
  where the British flag floated, and yet it was admitted that slavery was in full force in this protectorate.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: The question of slavery docs not arise.
  MR. J. P. FARRELL: They should have more information about the staff of officials than had been yet given to the Committee. It had been pointed out that the press of this country was not represented in these expeditions, and the public had to rely on officials for information. If all the information was to be judged by that supplied by the officials of this House, there was considerable room for improvement as to the truth of the facts furnished. If the Government were determined to carry on this system of throwing money into this bottomless hole of East Africa, they should give some information as to their policy; and special facilities should be afforded the Press to accompany the expeditions. There was no knowing what horrible cruelties were being perpetrated on both sides. What was the reason why a force of only 1,500 men cost £140,000? That seemed to be a very large sum. How long a period did it cover? The Irish people paid their share of this immense expenditure, but did not benefit in the slightest degree from these punitive expeditions, which indeed only added to their misfortunes. he hoped the right hon. the Member for Forest of Dean would press his motion to a division.
  MR. A. J. BALFOUR: I appeal to the Committee to bring this branch of this discussion to a close as soon as possible, as there are other matters of great interest and importance with which the Committee very much desire to deal.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMONDsaid they were dealing with the first item of this Vote, and he desired to ask, on a point of order, whether, when the first item was disposed of, they would be able to go on to the next.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: That is so.
  *SIR CHARLES DILKEsaid he proposed to divide on this motion. The Chairman had ruled that on this occasion they could not deal with the question of

  491
  the legal status of slavery in this Protectorate, but at the same time it would be in the minds of hon. Members that no pledge had been given by the Government on the subject.
  MR. TULLY (Leitrim, S.): I think that we Irish Members on a question like this, involving so much money—
  MR. A. J. BALFOURrose in his place, and claimed to move, "That the Question be now put."
  Question put, "That the Question be now put."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 204; Noes, 117. (Division List No. 73.)

  AYES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir Alex. F.

  Doxford, Sir William Theodore

  Lowe, Francis William

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Durning-Lawrence Sir Edwin

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Faber, George Denison

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Allhusen, Augustus H. Eden

  Fergusson, Rt. Hn. Sir J (Manc'r

  Lucas, Col. Francis(Lowestoft)

  Anson, Sir William Reynell

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Finch, George H.

  Maconochie, A. W.

  Arkwright, John Stanhope

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  M'Iver, Sir Lewis (Edinb., W.

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Fisher, William Hayes

  M'Killop, Jas. (Stirlingshire)

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Fitzmaurice, Lord Edmond

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Fitzroy, Hn. Edward Algernon

  Maxwell, W. J. H (Dumfriessh.

  Austin, Sir John

  Fletcher, Sir Henry

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Bailey, James (Walworth)

  Flower, Ernest

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Garfit, William

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Baird, John George Alexander

  Godson, Sir Augustus Frederick

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Balcarres, Lord

  Gordon, Hn. J. E. (Elgin&Nairn

  More, Robert Jasper (Shropsh.)

  Balfour, Rt. Hon. A.J. (Manch'r

  Gore, Hon. F. S. Ormsby-

  Morgan, David J. (Walthamst.

  Banbury, Frederick George

  Gorst, Rt. Hon. Sir John Eldon

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Bartley, George C. T.

  Goschen, Hon. George Joachim

  Morris, Hon. Martin H. F.

  Bathurst, Hn. Allen Benjamin

  Goulding, Edward Alfred

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

  Gray, Ernest (West Ham)

  Morton, Arthur H. A. (Deptf'd)

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Greene, Sir EW (B'rySEdm'nds

  Murray, Rt. Hon. A. G. (Bute

  Bhownaggree, Sir M. M.

  Greene, Henry D. (Shrewsbury)

  Murray, Col, Wyndham (Bath

  Bignold, Arthur

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander

  Bigwood, James

  Greville, Hon. Ronald

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Blundell, Col. Henry

  Groves, James Grimble

  Orr-Ewing, Charles Lindsay

  Bond, Edward

  Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton

  Palmer, Walter (Salisbury)

  Brassey, Albert

  Hain, Edward

  Parker, Gilbert

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Parkes, Ebenezer

  Brookfield, Colonel Montagu

  Hamilton, Rt Hn Lord G (Mid'x

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Bull, William James

  Hamilton, Marq of (L'nd'nderry

  Pierpoint, Robert

  Burdett-Coutts, W.

  Hanbury, Rt. Hon. Robert Wm.

  Pilkington, Richard

  Carson, Rt. Hon. Sir Edw. H.

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashfd

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Hare, Thomas Leigh

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lanes.)

  Harris, F. Leverton (Tynem'th

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Cavendish, V. C. W. (Derbysh.)

  Haslam, Sir Alfred S.

  Purvis, Robert

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Haslett, Sir James Horner

  Randles, John S.

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Heath, Arthur Howard (Hanley

  Rankin, Sir James

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. J. (Birm.)

  Heath, James (Staffords, N. W.

  Rasch, Major Frederic Carne

  Chamberlain, J. Austen (Worc'r

  Helder, Augustus

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Chapman, Edward

  Hogg, Lindsay

  Remnant James Farquharson

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Hope, J. F. (Sheffield, Brightside

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Clare, Octavius Leigh

  Hoult, Joseph

  Renwick, George

  Colston, Charles Edw. H. A.

  Howard, Cpt. J. (Kent, Faversh.

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Cook, Sir Frederick Lucas

  Hutton, John (Yorks, N.R.)

  Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

  Corbett, A. Cameron (Glasgow)

  Jackson, Rt. Hon. Wm. Lawies

  Rutherford, John

  Corbett, T. L. (Down, North)

  Jebb, Sir Richard Claverhouse

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Cox, Irwin Edw. Bainbridge

  Jeffreys, Arthur Frederick

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Samuel, Harry S. (Limehouse)

  Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

  Kennaway, Rt. Hon. Sir J. H.

  Saunderson, Rt. Hon. Col. E. J.

  Cross, Herbert S. (Bolton)

  Kenyon, Hon. Geo. T. (Denbigh)

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  King, Sir Henry Seymour

  Simeon, Sir Barrington

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Lambton, Hon. Frederick W.

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Dalrymple, Sir Charles

  Laurie, Lieut-General

  Skewes-Cox, Thomas

  Davies, Sir Horatio D (Chatham

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, E.)

  Dewar, T. R. (T'rH'mlets.S. Geo

  Lawson, John Grant

  Smith, H. C (North'mb.Tynesd.

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Lee, A. H. (Hants., Fareham)

  Smith, James P. (Lanarks.)

  Digby, John K. D. Wingfield-

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Spear, John Ward

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cockfield

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Stanley, Hon. A. (Ormskirk)

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Leveson-Gower, Fred. N. S.

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs.)

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Long, Rt. Hn. Walter (Bristol,S)

  Stewart, Sir Mark J. M'Taggart

  Stock, James Henry

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  Wilson-Todd, Wm. H. (Yorks.

  Stone, Sir Benjamin

  Webb, Col. William George

  Wolff, Gustay Wilhelm

  Stroyan, John

  Welby, Lt.-Col. A.C.E (Tauntn)

  Wrightson, Sir Thomas

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Whiteley, H (Ashton-and-Lyne

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napier

  William's, Col. R. (Dorset)

  Young, Commander (Berks, E.)

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Willox, Sir John Archibald

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Wilson, A. Stanley (York, E. R.)

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther,

  Valentia, Viscount

  Wilson, John (Falkirk)

  Vincent, Col. Sir CEH(Sheffield

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Walker, Col. William Hall

  Wilson, J. W. (Worcestersh., N.

  NOES.

  Abraham, William (Cork, N. E.

  Field, William

  O'Kelly, James (Roscommon, N

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.)

  O'Malley, William

  Allan, William (Gateshead)

  Furness, Sir Christopher

  O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

  Allen, Charles P. (Glouc. Stroud

  Gilhooly, James

  Partington, Oswald

  Barry, E. (Cork S.)

  Goddard, Daniel Ford

  Reddy, M.

  Boyle, James

  Hammond, John

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Brigg, John

  Harmswoth, R. Leicester

  Rigg, Richard

  Broadhurst, Henry

  Harwood, George

  Roberts, John H. (Denbighs.)

  Brown, George M. (Edinburgh)

  Hayden, John Patrick

  Robson, William Snowdon

  Brunner, Sir John Tomlinson

  Hemphill, Rt. Hon. Chas. H.

  Roche, John

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Holland, William Henry

  Roe, Sir Thomas

  Burns, John

  Jameson, Maj. J. Eustace

  Samuel, S. M. (Whitechapel)

  Burt, Thomas

  Jones, William (Carnarvonsh.

  Scott, Chas. Prestwich (Leigh)

  Buxton, Sydney Charles

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  Shipman, Dr. John G.

  Caldwell, James

  Joyce, Michael

  Sinclair, Capt. J. (Forfarshire)

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Kearley, Hudson E.

  Soames, Arthur Wellesley

  Causton, Richard Knight

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Soares, Ernest J.

  Cawley, Frederick

  Kitson, Sir James

  Spencer, Rt. Hn. CR (Northants

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Lambert, George

  Sullivan, Donal

  Colville, John

  Langley, Batty

  Taylor, Theodore Cooke

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Leamy, Edmund

  Thomas, Alfred (Glamorgan, E.

  Craig, Robert Hunter

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Thomas, J A(Glamorg'n, Gower

  Crean, Eugene

  Leng, Sir John

  Thompson, B.C.(Monaghan,N.

  Daly, James

  Levy, Maurice

  Tomkinson, James

  Davies, Alfred (Carmarthen)

  Lloyd-George, David

  Trevelyan, Charles Philips

  Davies, M. Vaughan-(Cardigan

  Lundon, W.

  Tully, Jasper

  Dewar, John A. (Inverness-sh.

  Macnamara, Dr. Thomas J.

  Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

  Dilke, Rt. Hon. Sir Charles

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Warner, Thomas Courtenay T.

  Donelan, Captain A.

  M'Kenna, Reginald

  Wason, Eugene(Clackmannan

  Doogan, P. C.

  Mansfield, Horace Rendall

  Weir, James Galloway

  Duffy, William J.

  Markham, Arthur Basil

  White, George (Norfolk)

  Duncan, James H.

  Morton, Edw. J.C. (Devonport

  White, Luke (York, E.R.)

  Dunn, Sir William

  O'Brien, James F. X. (Cork)

  Whitley, J. H. (Halifax)

  Elibank, Master of

  O'Brien, Kendal (Tipp'r'ry, Mid

  Wilson, Fred. W. (Norfolk, Mid

  Ellis, John Edward

  O'Brien, Patrick (Kilkenny)

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  Emmott, Alfred

  O'Connor, James (Wicklow, W.

  Young, Samuel (Cavan, East

  Earquharson, Dr. Robert

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Yoxall, James Henry

  Farrell, James Patrick

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S,)

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Mr. Caine and Mr. Thomas Bayley.

  Fenwick, Charles

  O'Dowd, John

  Ffreneh, Peter

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Question put accordingly, "That the Item, Class 5, Vote 2, he reduced by £1,000, in respect of British East Africa."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 121; Noes, 212. (Division List No. 74.)

  AYES.

  Abraham, Wm. (Cork, N. E.)

  Burt, Thomas

  Davies, Alfred (Carmarthen)

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Buxton, Sydney Charles

  Davies, M. Vaughan-(Cardigan

  Allan, William (Gateshead)

  Caldwell, James

  Dewar, J. A. (Inverness-sh.)

  Allen, C. P. (Glouc, Stroud)

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Donelan, Captain A.

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Causton, Richard Knight

  Doogan, P. C.

  Bayley, Thomas (Derbyshire)

  Cawley, Frederick

  Duffy, William J.

  Boyle, James

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Duncan, James H.

  Brigg, John

  Colville, John

  Dunn, Sir William

  Broadhurst, Henry

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Ellis, John Edward

  Brunner, Sir John Tomlinson

  Craig, Robert Hunter

  Emmott, Alfred

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Crean, Eugene

  Farquharson, Dr. Robert

  Burns, John

  Daly, James

  Farrell, James Patrick

  Fenwick, Charles

  Lough, Thomas

  Scott, Chas. Prestwich (Leigh

  Ffrench, Peter

  Lundon, W.

  Shipman, Dr. John G.

  Field, William

  Macnamara, Dr. Thomas J.

  Sinclair, Capt. John (Forfarsh.

  Fitzmaurice, Lord Edmond

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Soares, Ernest J.

  Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.)

  M'Kenna, Reginald

  Spencer, Rt. Hn. CR(Northant.

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  Mansfield, Horace Kendall

  Sullivan, Donal

  Furness, Sir Christopher

  Markham, Arthur Basil

  Taylor, Theodore Cooke

  Gilhooly, James

  Morton, E. J. C. (Devonport)

  Thomas, A. (Glamorgan, E.)

  Goddard, Daniel Ford

  O'Brien, James F. X. (Cork)

  Thomas, J A(Glamorg'n,Gower

  Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton

  O'Brien, K. (Tipperary, Mid.)

  Thompson, E. C.(Monaghan, N.

  Hammond, John

  O'Brien, Patrick (Kilkenny)

  Tomkinson, James

  Harmsworth, R. Leicester

  O'Coonor, Jas. (Wicklow, W.)

  Trevelyan, Charles Philips

  Harwood, George

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Tully, Jasper

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Donnoll, John (Mayo, S.)

  Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

  Hemphill, Rt. Hon. Chas. H.

  O'Donnell, T. (Kerry, W.)

  Warner, Thomas Courtenay T.

  Holland, William Henry

  O'Dowd, John

  Wason, Eugene (Clackmannan

  Jameson, Major J. Eustace

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Weir, James Galloway

  Jones, Wm. (Carnarvonsh.)

  O'Kelly, Jas. (Roscommon, N.

  White, George (Norfolk)

  Jordon, Jeremiah

  O'Malley, William

  White, Luke (York, E. B.)

  Joyce, Michael

  O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

  Whitley, J. H. (Halifax)

  Kearley, Hudson E.

  Partington, Oswald

  Wilson, F. W. (Norfolk, Mid.)

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Reddy, M.

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  Kitson, Sir James

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Woodhouse, Sir J. T. (Huddrsfld

  Lambert, George

  Reid, Sir R. Threshie (Dumfries

  Young, Samuel (Cavan, East)

  Langley, Batty

  Rigg, Richard

  Yoxall, James Henry

  Beamy, Edmund

  Roberts, John H. (Denbighsh.)

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Robson, William Snowdon

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir Charles Dilke and Mr. Caine.

  Leng, Sir John

  Roche, John

  Levy, Maurice

  Roe, Sir Thomas

  Lloyd-George, David

  Samuel, S. M. (Whitechapel)

  NOES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir Alex. F.

  Chapman, Edward

  Gray, Ernest (West Ham)

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Greene, Sir EW(B'rySEdm'nds

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Clare, Octavius Leigh

  Greene, Henry D. (Shrewsbury)

  Allhusen, Augustus Henry E.

  Colston, Chas. Edw. H. Athole

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.)

  Anson, Sir William Reynell

  Cook, Frederick Lucas

  Gretton, John

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Corbett, A. Cameron(Glasgow)

  Greville, Hon. Ronald

  Arkwright, John Stanhope

  Corbett, T. L. (Down, North)

  Groves, James Grimble

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Cox, Irwin Edw. Bainbridge

  Hain, Edward

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

  Hamilton, Rt. Hn. Ld G (Midd'x

  Austin, Sir John

  Cross, Herb. Shepherd (Bolton)

  Hamilton, Marq. of (L'nd'nd'rry

  Bailey, James (Walworth)

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Hanbury, Rt. Rn. Robert W.

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashfd.

  Baird, John George A.

  Dalrymple, Sir Charles

  Hare, Thomas Leigh

  Balcarres, Lord

  Davies, Sir Horatio D (Chatham

  Harris, Fleverton (Tynemouth

  Balfour, Rt. Hn. A. J. (Manch'r

  Dewar, T. R. (T'rH'ml'ts, S.Geo.

  Haslam, Sir Alfred S.

  Banbury, Frederick George

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Haslett, Sir J. Horner

  Bartley, George C. T.

  Digby, John K. D. Wingfield-

  Heath, Arthur Howard (Hanley

  Bathurst, Hon. Allen B.

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cockfield

  Heath, Jas. (Staffords, N. W.)

  Beach, Rt Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol)

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Helder, Augustus

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Hogg, Lindsay

  Bhownaggree, Sir M. M.

  Doxford, Sir William Theodore

  Hope, J. F. (Sheffield Brightside

  Bignold, Arthur

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  Hoult, Joseph

  Bigwood, James

  Elibank, Master of

  Howard, Capt J. (Kent, Faversh

  Bill, Charles

  Faber, George Denison

  Hutton, John (Yorks, N.B.)

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Fergusson, Rt. Hn. Sir J (Manc'r

  Jackson, Rt. Hon. W. Lawies

  Bond, Edward

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Jebb, Sir Richard Claverhouse

  Brassey, Albert

  Finch, George H.

  Jeffreys, Arthur Frederick

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Brookfield, Colonel Montagu

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Kennaway, Rt. Hn. Sir J. H.

  Brown, George M. (Edinburgh)

  Fitzroy, Hon. Edw. Algernon

  Kenyon, Hn. G. T. (Denbigh)

  Bull, William James

  Fletcher, Sir Henry

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop.

  Burdett-Coutts, W.

  Flower, Ernest

  King, Sir Henry Seymour

  Carson, Rt. Hon. Sir Edw. H.

  Garfit, William

  Lambton, Hon. Frederick Wm.

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Gibbs, Hon. Vicary (St. Albans)

  Laurie, Lieut.-General

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fredk.

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Cavendish, V. C. W. (Derbysh.)

  Gordon, Hn. J. E (Elgin&Nairn

  Lawson, John Grant

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Gore, Hon. F. S. Ormsby-

  Lee, A. H. (Hants, Fareham)

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Gorst, Rt. Hn. Sir John Eldon

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. J. (Birm

  Goschen, Hon. George J.

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Chamberlain, J. Austen (Worc'r

  Goulding, Edward Alfred

  Leveson-Gower, Frederick N. S,

  496

  497

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs.)

  Long, Rt. Hn Walter (Bristol, S.

  Pierpoint, Robert

  Stewart, Sir Mark J.M Taggart

  Lowe, Francis William

  Pilkington, Richard

  Stock, James Henry

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Stone, Sir Benjamin

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Stroyan, John

  Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft)

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Purvis, Robert

  Sturt, Hn. Humphry Napier

  Maconochie, A. W.

  Randles, John S.

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  M'Iver, Sir Lewis (Edinburgh W

  Rankin, Sir James

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  M'Killop, James (Stirlingshire

  Rasch, Maj. Frederic Carne

  Valentia, Viscount

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Vincent, Col. Sir C E H (Sheffield

  Maxwell, W J H (Dumfriesshire

  Remnant, James Farquharson

  Walker, Col. William Hall

  Mildmay, Francis Bingham

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Renwick, George

  Webb, Col. William George

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Ridley, S. Forde (BethnalGreen

  Welby, Lt-Col A.C.E. (Taunt'n

  Montagn, G. (Huntingdon)

  Ritchie, Rt. Hn. Chas Thomson

  Whiteley, H (Ashton u-Lyne

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Williams, Colonel R. (Dorset)

  More, Robt. Jasper (Shropshire

  Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

  Willox, Sir John Archibald

  Morgan, D. J. (Walthamstow)

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Wilson, A. S. (York. E.R.)

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Wilson, John (Falkirk)

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Samuel, H. S. (Limehouse)

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Saunderson, Rt Hn. Col. Edw. J.

  Wilson, J. W. (Worcester, N.)

  Morton, Arthur H. A. (Deptford

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Wilson-Todd, Wm. H (Yorks.)

  Murray, Rt. Hon. A. G. (Bute)

  Simeon, Sir Harrington

  Wolff, Gustay Wilhelm

  Murray, Col. Wyndham(Bath)

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Wrightson, Sir Thomas

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander

  Skewes-Cox, Thomas

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, E.)

  Young, Commander (Berks, E.)

  Orr-Ewing, Charles Lindsay

  Smith, H. C. (N'h' mb., Tyneside.

  Palmer, Walter (Salisbury)

  Smith, James Parker (Lanarks.

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Parker, Gilbert

  Spear, John Ward

  Parkes, Ebenezer

  Stanley, Hn. Arthur (Ormskirk

  Original Question again proposed.

  THE SOMALILAND EXPEDITION.
  *SIR BRAMPTON CURDON*SIR BRAMPTON CURDON (Norfolk, N.) moved to reduce the Vote by £10,000 in respect to Somaliland, and said that in accordance with the appeal of the First Lord of the Treasury to the Committee to give every Vote a fair chance, he should be as brief as possible in his remarks. His object in moving the reduction was to call attention to the revival of a practice which had long fallen into disuse in this country—the use of mercenaries in our wars. He referred to the employment of the Central African Regiment, first of all in Somaliland and then in West Africa. So long as native troops were used in their own particular country he offered no objection: but he certainly did object to their being moved into other countries as soldiers. In the future the Central African Regiment might become after years of training as reliable as the Sikhs, but at present they could not be trusted either in victory or defeat. It was in the recollection of the Committee that a discussion arose last year on the question of these men being removed to the Mauritius for garrison duty, the result being that they followed

  498
  out their natural instincts and rebelled against discipline, broke out of barracks, and raided villages, murdering men and outraging women. He had never found out who was responsible for their being brought to Mauritius. They were severely punished and removed to Somaliland. He could only describe them as mercenaries, because they had not been long enough under the dominion of Great Britain to have any feeling of patriotism for our cause. A great many of our Yeomen who had gone out to South Africa went out for the fun of the fighting; but at the same time they felt that they were fighting for their country, and were buoyed up by the feeling of patriotism for our cause. He made no objection to Indian troops in China, because they had been so long under our rule that they had an attachment for us and were proud to fight for us, but the native troops which were now being employed in Somaliland were nothing better than mercenaries, whose instincts were almost animal, and it was a very dangerous thing to send these men to fight in a country when we could not restrain them in the moment of victory or depend upon them in the moment of defeat. He agreed with what had been said as to the disadvantage of placing these protectorates

  499
  under the Foreign Office. British Central Africa, for which he claimed to speak, was earnestly desirous of being transferred to the Colonial Office. He moved the reduction of the Vote by the sum. of £200.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Item, Class 5, Vote '2, be reduced by £10,000, in respect of Somali-land (Grant in Aid)."—(Sir Brampton Gurdon.)
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: The hon. Gentleman who has moved this reduction devoted a great part of his remarks to protesting against the use of these men in Somaliland. I can comfort him in that regard; they have not been used in Somaliland. Though they were in garrison there at the time of the out break of hostilities, they were unfortunately afflicted with illness, and were not available. I do not admit at all that these men behaved badly on the Mauritius, as the hon. Gentleman suggests.
  *SIR BRAMPTON GURDON: Not at all; I stuck up for them. I said they were only following their natural instincts.
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: Nor can I allow them to be called mercenaries Of course they are mercenaries, in the sense that they are paid; but then so are the British soldiers, of whom we are all so proud. I think it is a strong order to say that these men do not feel their position as subjects of the British Empire as much or even more than we do. Hon. Members seem to have forgotten the enormous benefits conferred upon these men by their being under British rule, and it is very natural that they should be proud of their position in the Empire. I entirely repudiate the idea that they are mercenaries in any adverse sense of the word, and if we find, as we do, that these native troops are far more suitable for the conditions under which warfare in various parts of Africa is carried on we ought to use them. These troops we employ are far cheaper than any other troops that we could possibly employ. They are far cheaper than British troops and far cheaper than Indian troops, and upon every ground, therefore, from the point of view of
  500
  cheapness and from the point of view of patriotism, we ought to employ them. Representing as I do the Foreign Office, J ought not to pass by altogether what has been said as to the administration of Somaliland and the other protectorates which are administered by the Foreign Office. The House may rest assured that there arc special reasons why these protectorates should be administered rather by the Foreign than the Colonial Office. We have Protectorates whose frontiers adjoin those of France, Germany, and Italy, and questions constantly arise which can only be dealt with by the Foreign Office, and it would only tend to delay matters if these protectorates were transferred to the administration of the Colonial Office. That is the case of Somaliland; on the east we have the Italian hinterland, and on the west the French colonies, and those two nations are in constant relations with the protectorate.
  AN HON. MEMBER: The same consideration applies to West Africa.
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: Things in West Africa are in a very much more forward state undoubtedly. When once these countries are brought under settled government then they can be transferred to the Colonial Office, but that is not yet the case with Somaliland. I now propose very shortly to give an account of the expedition in Somaliland as I did in the case of Matabeleland, but I ought to preface it by the remark that it is very much a matter of conjecture, as we have not yet got to the end of operations. The object of the operations which are taking place in Somaliland is to check the depredations and attacks of a certain Mullah, who has for several years past been a great danger to the peace and order of that part of the world. He is a Mahdi, if I might say so, on a small scale, and I might very well rest the case there, because anyone who is familiar with what took place in the Soudan, which led to our expedition in that country, will have a full knowledge of the evils connected with Mahdism. This man was first heard of in 1896, but he did not attain any importance until 1899, when he returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca as the leader of a certain sect which pro-

  501
  ceeded to make proselytes in Somaliland, following the ordinary course of religious zealots. He claimed to rule the whole of the centre of Somaliland, from which he was good enough to say the English must go, although they might hold the coast, He then commenced a system of raiding accompanied by murder and robbery, and his despotism became such a nuisance that the tribes under our protection, having fought against it, cried out that they were gradually losing faith in our power to protect them. Their cattle were being carried away and the people were being murdered, and we were told that if we did not interfere they would he compelled to make friends with the Mullah to save themselves. The matter was complicated by the views of the Abyssinians. The Abyssinians applied to us to know whether we were going to permit the existence of this source of disorder, and asked for a reply. Matters wont on, and the power and audacity of the Mullah increased, and it was finally represented to us by our officer on the spot that the situation had become dangerous. The same information came from the Abyssinians, so that the position of the Mullah could no longer be tolerated. At the end of November last year, therefore, the Government resolved to make preparations to check the Mullah. The British Central African Regiment was not available, but a body of Somalia was raised, with British officers and arms. Recently, I am glad to say, we hear that the Mullah has been engaged with the Abyssinians, and that they soundly defeated him. An advance on our side is now under consideration in order to subdue him finally. With regard to the future of Somaliland, I may say that this year the trade has reached its highest level since the opening of British rule, and the revenue has also improved. I do not deny that the temporary military expenditure has increased, but on the whole the outlook is by no means unfavourable, and I hope the expenditure will be confined to a limited amount. I need say no more, and I hope I have said enough to satisfy the Committee with regard to this Vote.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMONDsaid the speech which had been delivered by the noble Lord would not bring conviction
  502
  to the mind of anyone as to the justification of the proceedings which the Government had taken in South Africa. Such flimsy pretexts had never been given in the House of Commons for the expenditure of one million of money as those just given by the noble Lord as a reason for these military operations in Somaliland. The Mullah had made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and on his return had endeavoured to convert the people of his country to his own religious views. If that were a crime sufficient to necessitate a military expedition, then the British were guilty of that crime in a greater degree than any other nation of the world. The noble Lord had characterised this man as a, barbarian and a general nuisance, and the British taxpayer was therefore to be called upon to find the money to make war upon him. It was a self-evident proposition that the Abyssinians were a civilised people and able to take care of themselves, because if they had not been nothing was more certain than that the Government would have made war upon them for the purpose of capturing their country. There was one curious fact with regard to the policy of the Government in Africa, and that was that, although they were always in hot water with somebody, they took care not to get into hot water with any people they did not think were weak enough to be subdued. The noble Lord had just said there was another expedition under consideration. Why, what reason was there for another expedition? He objected to this item of expenditure, not only because to some extent it fell upon Ireland, but from the English point of view that Members had a, right to complain that the Government, when they considered it necessary to indulge in a warlike expedition against a mad Mullah, did not take precautions to have a, proper military expedition launched against him, but Were continually coming to the House for supplies. The noble Lord said this man was to be persecuted because he had endeavoured to impose his religious views upon other people.
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: I did not say anything of the kind.
  MR. WILLIAM REDMONDsaid he wished that sentiment had been acted

  503
  upon in respect to Ireland, where the I whole object of past Governments had been to impose their religious views upon the people of that country. He was glad that a reduction had been moved in this Vote. He strongly objected to these continual Votes for war-like expeditions. Whatever the case might be with regard to the necessity of these expeditions from a British point of view, from the Irish point of view there was absolutely no justification for the expenditure of a single penny in this direction. He did not know what the constituents of the Liberal Members of the House were like, but from the action of the Liberal party from time to time upon questions of this kind he was inclined to think that their constituents could not be up to much. There could be no doubt in the mind of the noble Lord that those Irish Members who represented Irish constituencies had got a mandate from the people who elected them to offer the strongest opposition in their power to expenditure of this kind, "The previous Vote which had been passed was very similar to this one, and now they were asked to vote £200,000 for a war against some unfortunate Mullah who happened to hold religious views different from the noble Lord opposite and his noble relative the Member for Greenwich. This Mullah might not be ritualistic enough to suit the Member for Greenwich, but that was no reason why his head should be cut off and a military expedition launched against him. From the point of view of the Irish taxpayers they were perfectly justified in opposing this expenditure. They knew that the members of the Government would be the last people to refuse to admit that there was in Ireland the most pressing need for the expenditure of money in order to develop the industries of the country. The people of Ireland were in a state of distress, and yet they had the greatest difficulty in getting the House of Commons to listen to Irish representatives. They were asked to vote hundreds of thousands of pounds for these unnecessary, dangerous, iniquitous, and sanguinary wars in every part, of Africa, and if they offered the slightest objection they were told that they were obstructing and interfering with the business of the House and the country. Whenever a Vote of
  504
  this kind came up it must be apparent to all hon. Members that it would be far better for the interests of this country if, instead of being compelled to come to this House, they were allowed to remain at home and manage their own affairs.
  *SIR BRAMPTON GURDONsaid that after the explanation given by the noble Lord he would ask leave to withdraw his Amendment. [Cries of "No, no!" from the Irish benches.]
  Permission to withdraw being refused.
  MR. BROADHURSTsaid he understood from what the noble Lord had just stated that another expedition was to take place immediately in Africa. He wished to know if it had been already organised, when would it be put in motion, what was its object, was the expedition unavoidable, and was there any prospect of preventing it? They did not often get to know anything of this kind until the bill was presented to Parliament. The noble Lord had treated them with a frankness and an open-mindedness to which they were not accustomed. As ho had told them so much about the matter, perhaps he would not mind telling them a little more. When was this expedition to take place and what was the length of time that would be necessary to secure the object in view? Perhaps the noble Lord could tell the Committee what the probable cost would be and how much this country was likely to benefit by the expedition when it was over.
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: The object of the expedition is to defeat the Mullah and to destroy his power. If there is any chance of his power being destroyed without an expedition, no one will be more delighted than the Government. I am bound to say that I do not think the expedition can be avoided. The situation has become intolerable. This man's barbarity injures our trade; and hurts our subjects, and he must be destroyed. The Mullah was originally a religious leader, but his religious character has disappeared and his barbarity and tyranny remain.
  *MR. JOHN BURNSthought the House of Commons was very

  505
  much indebted to the hon. Member for ' getting this information from the noble Lord. It was all very well for him to say that this Mullah was mad—
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: I have never the used word "mad" in the whole course of these proceedings.
  *MR. JOHN BURNSsaid that perhaps in the mind of the noble Lord he was something worse than mad—he was religious. He wished to deal with the statement of the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the effect that in the neighbourhood of Somaliland a native chief had arisen who had become a nuisance to British interests. He had become such a nuisance that he had to be hunted down at all cost. If the noble Lord thought that this hunting of Mullahs could go on indefinitely east, west, north, and south, in the present strained condition of the finances of the British Empire, then he had embarked upon an expedition the end of which no man could see and the cost of which the British taxpayers would seriously resent if the Government were to give them an opportunity. They resented Mullah hunting in general and the Somaliland one in particular. The noble Lord stated that this expedition was going on, and would go on until this Mullah was destroyed. But they were not going to destroy this Mullah and his power so easily. He started this game in 1896, and in 1899 he became serious. He presumed that the Mullah was an Arab and had paid a visit to Mecca, and in consequence some disagreement had ensued. Therefore, he came back from Mecca and became a nuisance. He was accused of stealing cattle, but there were British subjects in other parts of Africa who were engaged in that occupation at the present time. Did the Government also propose to destroy the cattle stealers there? The chief offence of this man was that, under the, guise of religious inspiration, this religious enthusiast had started "lifting" the cattle of his neighbours. But that was a, congenial and reciprocal pastime in Somaliland. His fellow-countrymen north of the Tweed indulged in the same pastime 200 years ago. Cattle stealing was a tribal pastime, in Africa, almost as popular as foxhunting
  506
  and breaking down farmers' fences was in this country. Surely that was no reason why they should kill the men who indulged in it. They appeared to have determined to rout out of Africa every tribe that showed courage, every chief who displayed independence, and every native community which had courageously determined to stick to their own language, religion, habits and customs, and if England continued this policy much longer these oppressed people would join together in one common cause, and a, condition of things in Africa would arise which all the European Powers combined would not be able to overcome and subdue. They tried the same thing on with the Mahdi. and then they transferred their attention to Kruger and to Steyn, and they would have liked to have done the same thing with Menelik, but he was too strong. The Italians tried to do the same thing, and he rejoiced to think that the Abyssinians wiped out the demoralised Italians at Adowa.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: Order, order! The subject to which the hon. Member is referring has no bearing upon this Vote.
  *MR. JOHN BURNSsaid he would bow at once to the Chairman's ruling. The noble Lord talked about the enforcement of discipline as if discipline and military rule were synonymous with the development of British trade. That was not true, and he believed that just in proportion as they tried to subject these native tribes to military discipline to that extent they would damage their trade and interfere with commercial interests; not only this, but they would damage the future relationship of this country with the people whom they ought to be in kindly, benevolent, and friendly contact with. Who were the people they had chosen for this expedition? They had employed 1,600 Central African irregulars.
  *VISCOUNT CRANBORNE: Native levies.
  *MR. JOHN BURNSsaid that by employing those men under British supervision they were only producing tribal animosities. [Ministerial cries of "Oh, oh !"] He could assure hon. Members

  507
  opposite that they were not going to howl him down, and so long as he was in order he should exercise the attenuated rights left to a Member of Parliament of expressing his views. He believed that the employment of these irregulars was going to do a great deal of harm to British interests, and as one who had had a year's experience of them in one of the worst parts of Africa be would say-that just in proportion as they used force to destroy native habits and customs they were damaging trade, weakening their prestige, and accentuating permanently the very thing they hoped to remove. He would read to the Committee an extract from the writings of a very distinguished African, Sir Andrew Clarke. He said—and his remarks apply to East Africa—
  "We should be happier in our rule on the West Coast —and I speak from experience, for I was out there for some time myself—if we had confined ourselves to pure trading. At present we can only succeed by forced labour, and that always means the deterioration of both English and native. Remember this, that on the West Coast we are only re-occupying ground which was occupied by the powerful and pious influence of the Roman Catholics—I refer to the government of the Portuguese, years ago. They spent money and lives, but failed, and now there remain of their rule only the ruins of convents and old palaces, which you will see crumbling to dust in the jungle, with ceilings painted by Italians. Nature is too strong for the European, and it will be the same with us. Our work in the Hinterland may prolong our stay, but in time it will be handed over to natives, controlled and guided by a half-caste and bastard population of our own race. And awful then will be the condition of West Africa. It will be a solemn warning to England, and an object lesson on the absolute necessity for firm decision between the true colonisation of our race and the occupying of territory merely for the purposes of money-getting."
  And to confirm him on page 28 of the Central Africa Protectorate Report there appeared the following:—
  "There is a steady increase of contagious venereal diseases among Europeans and natives,"
  and other horrors incidental to this undisciplined-territory grabbing.
  That was the civilisation which they intended to give to Somaliland by such expeditions as the noble Lord was now engaged in. This country, through lack of judgment and tact, in sixty years had undertaken sixty-three wars and ex-
  508
  peditions against native tribes in east, west, north, south, not only of Africa, but of Asia. The people of this country were getting tired of such campaigns in Africa, alternating with expeditions on the north-west frontier of India. Was the Government going to enforce equal rights to all men in South Africa and destroy the Boers, who were rightly struggling to be free? He protested with all his force against the House of Commons surrendering its supervisory duties and its controlling power to the Cabinet. So long as the House of Commons surrendered its duty of control in such matters, and allowed inexperienced military men to manage such affairs, so long would the taxation of the country continue to go up. It was because he believed their Empire would be diminished and not increased by such expeditions, because he believed that their honour was attacked and their prestige was being slowly whittled away, that be deprecated the speech made by the noble Lord. He should condemn the Somaliland expedition as long as he was a Member of the House, for such expenditure was only squandering their money, irritating the native tribes against them, and making the name of England a bye-word and reproach to the smaller nations of the earth. He appealed to every hon. Member on this side of the House, and to the better intentioned hon. Members on the other side—to the old-fashioned Tories who were getting tired of the new diplomacy and this world-wide brigandage and filching away of native rights and customs from people who had a right to any religion which they cared to profess—to vote against this policy, which was permanently damaging the British Empire, its name, and its best traditions.
  MR. A. J. BALFOUR: I hope the House will agree with me when I say that on a. Supplementary Estimate it really is not desirable that we should go over the whole policy of the relations between this country and the various native tribes, rights, and customs which the hon. Gentleman has gone into.
  *MR. JOHN BURNSsaid he should not have said a word on the subject but for the noble Lord telling them that this expedition was going to be carried

  509
  through until the Mullah was destroyed, and that was not a policy which ought to be introduced upon a Supplementary Estimate.
  MR. A.J. BALFOUR: In any ease, I think the next item in this Vote presents an even more attractive opportunity of attacking the Government, and I would suggest that hon. Members opposite should allow this Vote to pass and turn their attention to pursuing higher game.
  MR. DALYsaid that one of the pleas put forward by the noble Lord opposite was that trade would be spoiled unless this Mullah was put down. That was practically an admission that such wars were carried on for the purpose of extending trade, and while Great Britain might be improved by these expeditions not one penny of improvement would come to the country which he represented. For that reason he felt that it was the duty of his hon. friends on that
  side of the House to protest against the large sums of money called for by the Government in the way of Supplementary Votes. It was a very remarkable thing that the Government, possessing so much brains and ability, had not been able to foresee more accurately their requirements and the amount of money they would require to carry them through. On this ground they fully deserved every opposition to the passing of those Votes. Any commercial establishment which went so far astray as the Government had done this year in estimating its requirements would soon find itself in the Bankruptcy Court.
  MR. A. J. BALFOURrose in his place, and claimed to move, "That the Question be now put."
  Question put, "That the Question be now put."
  The Committee divided: Ayes, 230; Noes, 117. (Division List No. 75.)

  AYES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir A. F.

  Chamberlain, J Austen (Worc'r

  Gordon, Hn. J. E.(Elgin&Nairn

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Chapman, Edward

  Gore, Hon. F. S. Ormsby-

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Gorst, Rt. Hon. Sir John Eldon

  Allhusen, Augustus Henry E.

  Cochrane, Hon. T. H. A. E.

  Goschen, Hon. George Joachim

  Anson, Sir William Reynell

  Compton, Lord Alwyne

  Goulding, Edward Alfred

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Cook, Sir Frederick Lucas

  Gray, Ernest (West Ham)

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Corbett, A. C. (Glasgow)

  Greene, Sir E W (BrySEdm'nds

  Aahmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Corbett, T. L. (Down, North)

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Grenfell, William Henry

  Austin, Sir John

  Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

  Gretton, John

  Bailey, James (Walworth)

  Cross, Herb. Shepherd (Bolton)

  Greville, Hon. Ronald

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Groves, James Grimble

  Baird, John George Alex.

  Cust, Henry John C.

  Gurdon, Sir W. Brampton

  Balcarres, Lord

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Guthrie, Walter Murray

  Balfour, Rt. Hon. A. J. (Manch'r

  Dalrymple, Sir Charles

  Hain, Edward

  Banbury, Frederick George

  Davies, Sir Horatio D. (Chath'm

  Hall, Edward Marshall

  Hartley, George G. T.

  Davies, M. Vaughan-(Cardigan

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Bathurst, Hon. Allen Benjamin

  Dewar, T R. (T'rH'ml'ts, S.Geo.

  Hamilton, Rt Hn Lord G. (Mid'x

  Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Hamilton, Marq. of (L'donderry

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Dickson-Poynder, Sir John P.

  Banbury, Rt. Hon. Robt. W.

  Bhownaggree, Sir M. M.

  Digby, John K. D. Wingfield

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashf'd)

  Bignold, Arthur

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cock field

  Hare, Thomas Leigh

  Bill, Charles

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Harris, F. Leverton (Tynem'uth

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Haslam, Sir Alfred S.

  Bond, Edward

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edw.

  Hay, Hon. Claude George

  Boscawen, Arthur Griffith-

  Dyke, Rt. Hn. Sir William Hart

  Heath, Arthur H. (Hanley)

  Bowles, Capt. H. V. (Middlesex)

  Egerton, Hon. A. de Tatton

  Heath, Jas. (Staffords., N.'W.)

  Brassey, Albert

  Fergusson, Rt Hn. Sir. J (Manc'r

  Helder, Augustus

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Hogg, Lindsay

  Brookfield, Colonel Montagu

  Finch, George H.

  Hope, J. F. (Shef'ld, Brightside

  Burdett-Coutts, W.

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  Hoult, Joseph

  Butcher, John George

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Howard, Capt J (Kent, Faversh.

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Fitzroy, Hon. Edw. Algernon

  Button, John (Yorks, N.R.)

  Cavendish, R.F. (N. Lancs.)

  Fletcher, Sir Henry

  Jackson, Rt. Hon. W. Lawies

  Cavendish, V.C W (Derbyshire)

  Garfit, William

  Jeffreys, Arthur Frederick

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Gibbs, Hn A.G.H. (City of Lond.

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Gibbs, Hon. Vicary (St. Albans)

  Kennaway, Rt. Hn. Sir J. H.

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. J. (Birm.

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fredk.

  Kenyon, Hon. Geo. T. (Denbigh

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop.

  Morton, A. H. A. (Deptford)

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  King, Sir Henry Seymour

  Mount, William Arthur

  Skewes Cox, Thomas

  Lambton, Hon. Frederick W.

  Mowbray, Sir Robert Gray C.

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, E.)

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Murray, Rt. Hn. A. G. (Bute)

  Smith, H.C. (N'h'mb., Tyneside

  Lawrence, William F.

  Murray, Chas. J. (Coventry)

  Smith, Jas. Parker (Lanarks.)

  Lawson, John (Grant

  Murray, Col. Wyndham (Bath)

  Spear, John Ward

  Lee, Capt. A H (Hants. Fareham

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander

  Stanley, Lord (Lanes.)

  Legge, Col. Hon. Hencage

  Nicholson, William Graham

  Stanley, Hon Arthur (Ormskirk

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Stewart, Sir Mark J. M'Taggart

  Leveson-Gower, Frederick N. S.

  O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

  Stock, James Henry

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Orr-Ewing, Charles Lindsay

  Stone, Sir Benjamin

  Long, Rt. Hon. W. (Bristol, S.

  Palmer, Walter (Salisbury)

  Stroyan, John

  Lowe, Francis William

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Pierpoint, Robert

  Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napier

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Lucas, Col. Francis(Lowestoft)

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Talbot, Rt. Hon. JG(OxfdUniv

  Lucas, Reginald J.(Portsmouth

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Lyttelton, Hon. Alfred

  Purvis, Robert

  Tollemache, Henry James

  Macartney, Rt. Hn. W. G. E.

  Randles, John S.

  Tomlinson, Wm.Edw. Murray

  Macdona, John dimming

  Rankin, Sir James

  Valentia, Viscount

  Maconochie, A. W.

  Rasch, Maj. Frederic Carne

  Walker, Col. William Hall

  M'Iver, Sir Lewis (Edinb., W.)

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  M'Killop, Jas. (Stirlingshire)

  Remnant, James Farquharson

  Warr, Augustus Frederick

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Webb, Col. William George

  Malcolm, Ian

  Renwick, George

  Welby, Lt.-Col. A. CE(Taunton

  Manners, Lord Cecil

  Ridley, Hn. M. W. (Stalybridge)

  Whiteley, H. (Ashton-u.-Lyne)

  Martin, Richard Biddulph

  Ridley, S. F. (Bethnal Green)

  Williams, Colonel R. (Dorset)

  Maxwell, WJH (Dumfriesshire

  Ritchie, Rt. Hn. Chas. Thomson

  Willox, Sir John Archibald

  Melville, Beresford Valentine

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Wilson, A. Stanley (York, E. R.)

  Mildmay, Francis Bingham

  Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

  Wilson, John (Falkirk)

  Milward, Col. Victor

  Royds, Clement Molyneux

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Wilson, J. W. (Worcestersh. N.

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Wilson-Todd, Wm. H.(Yorks.)

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Samuel, Harry S. (Limehouse)

  Wolff, Gustay Wilhelm

  More, R. Jasper (Shropshire)

  Sassoon, Sir Edward Albert

  Wrightson, Sir Thomas

  Morgan, David J (Walthamst.)

  Saunderson, Rt. Hn. Col. E.J.

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Morgan, Hon. F. (Monm'thsh.

  Seely, Charles Hilton(Lincoln)

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  TELLERS FOE THE AYES—Sir William Walroud and Mr. Anstruther.

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Shaw-Stewart, M. H. (Renfrew

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Simeon, Sir Harrington

  NOES.

  Abraham, William (Cork, N.E.)

  Emmott, Alfred

  Lundon, W.

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Farrell, James Patrick

  M'Crae, George

  Allen, C. P. (Glouc, Stroud)

  Fenwick, Charles

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Ffrench, Peter

  M'Kenna, Reginald

  Bayley, Thomas (Derbyshire)

  Field, William

  M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North)

  Beaumont, Wentworth C. B.

  Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.)

  M'Laren, Charles Benjamin

  Boland, John

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  Mansfield, Horace Rendall

  Boyle, James

  Gilhooly, James

  Mooney, John J.

  Brigg, John

  Goddard, Daniel Ford

  Morton, Edw. J.C.(Devonport)

  Broadhurst, Henry

  Hammond, John

  Nolan, Col. J. P. (Galway, N.

  Brown, Geo. M. (Edinburgh)

  Harmsworth, R. Leicester

  O'Brien, K. (Tipperary, Mid)

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Connor, James (Wicklow, W

  Burns, John

  Hayne, Rt. Hon. Charles Seale-

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Burt, Thomas

  Hemphill, Rt. Hn. Charles H.

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Holland, William

  O'Dowd, John

  Causton, Richard Knight

  Jameson, Major J. Eustace

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Cawley, Frederick

  Joicey, Sir James

  O'Kelly, Jas. (Roscommon, N.)

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Jones, William (Carnarvonsh.

  O'Malley, William

  Colville, John

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  O'Mara, James

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Joyce, Michael

  O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

  Craig, Robert Hunter

  Kearley, Hudson E.

  O'Shee, James John

  Crean, Eugene

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Palmer, George W. (Reading)

  Daly, James

  Kitson, Sir James

  Partington, Oswald

  Davies, Alfred (Carmarthen)

  Lambert, George

  Reddy, M.

  Dewar, John A. (Inverness-sh.

  Langley, Batty

  Redmond, John E.(Waterford)

  Doogan, P. C.

  Leamy, Edmund

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Duffy, William J.

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Rigg, Richard

  Duncan, James H.

  Levy, Maurice

  Roberts, John H. (Denbighs.)

  Dunn, Sir William

  Lewis, John Herbert

  Robson, William Snowdon

  Elibank, Master of

  Lloyd-George, David

  Roche, John

  Ellis, John Edward

  Lough, Thomas

  Roe, Sir Thomas

  512

  513

  Schwann, Charles E.

  Thomas, J A (Glamorgan Gower

  White, Luke (York, E. R.)

  Sinclair, Capt John (Forfarshire

  Thompson, E. C. (Mouaghan, N.

  Wilson, F.W. (Norfolk, Mid.)

  Soames, Arthur Wellesley

  Tomkinson, James

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  Soares, Ernest J.

  Trevelyan, Charles Philips

  Wodehouse, Hn. Armine(Essex

  Sullivan, Donal

  Tully, Jasper

  Woodhouse, Sir J T (HuddTsh'd

  Taylor, Theodore Cooke

  Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

  Young, Samuel (Cavan, East)

  Tennant, Harold John

  Warner, Thomas Courtenay T.

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Captain Donelan and Mr. Patrick O'Brien.

  Thomas, Alfred (Glamorgan, E.

  Weir, James Galloway

  Thomas, F. Freeman (Hastings

  White, George (Norfolk)

  Question put accordingly. "That the Item, Class 5, Vote 2, be reduced by £10,000, in respect of Somaliland (Grant-in Aid)."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes. 112; Noes, 235. (Division List No.76.)

  AYES.

  Abraham, Wm. (Cork, N. E.)

  Harmsworth, R. Leicester

  O'Malley, William

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Mara, James

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Hayne, Rt. Hn. Charles Seale-

  O'Shaughnessy, P. J.

  Beaumont, Went worth C. B.

  Hemphill, Rt. Hon. Charles H.

  O'Shee, James John

  Boland, John

  Holland, William Henry

  Palmer, George Wm. (Reading)

  Boyle, James

  Jameson, Major J. Eustace

  Reddy, M.

  Brigg, John

  Joicey, Sir James

  Redmond, John E. (Waterford)

  Broadhurst, Henry

  Jones, William (Carnarvonsh.)

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  Rigg, Richard

  Burns, John

  Joyce, Michael

  Roberts, John H. (Denbighsh.)

  Burt, Thomas

  Kearley, Hudson E.

  Robson, William Snowdon

  Buxton, Sydney Charles

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Roche, John

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Kitson, Sir James

  Roe, Sir Thomas

  Cawley, Frederick

  Lambert, George

  Schwann, Charles E.

  Claney, John Joseph

  Langley, Batty

  Soares, Ernest J.

  Colville, John

  Leamy, Edmund

  Spencer, Rt. Hn. CH (Northants

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Sullivan, Donal

  Craig, Robert Hunter

  Levy, Maurice

  Taylor, Theodore Cooke

  Crean, Eugene

  Lewis, John Herbert

  Tennant, Harold John

  Daly, James

  Lloyd-George, David

  Thomas, Alfred (Glamorgan, E.

  Dalziel, James Henry

  Lough, Thomas

  Thomas, F. Freeman- (Hastings

  Davies, Alfred (Carmarthen)

  Lundon, W.

  Thomas, J A(Glamorgan,Gower

  Davies,MVaughan-(Cardigan)

  M'Crae, George

  Tomkinson, James

  Dewar, J. A. (Inverness-sh.)

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Tully, Jasper

  Donelan, Captain A.

  M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North)

  Walton, Joseph (Barnsley)

  Doogan, P. C.

  M'Laren, Charles Benjamin

  Warner, Thos. Courtenay T.

  Duffy, William J.

  Mansfield, Horace Kendall

  Weir, James Calloway

  Duncan, James H.

  Mooney, John J.

  White, George (Norfolk)

  Ellis, John Edward

  Morton, E. J. C. (Devonport)

  White, Luke (York, E. R.)

  Farrell, James Patrick

  Murphy, J.

  Wilson, Fred. W. (Norfolk, Mid.

  Fenwick, Charles

  Nolan, Col. John P.(Galway,N.

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  Ffrench, Peter

  O'Brien, K. (Tipperary, Mid.)

  Wodehouse, Hn. Armine (Essex

  Field, William

  O'Brien, Patrick (Kilkenny)

  Woodhouse, Sir J T (Huddersf'd

  Foster, Sir W. (Derby Co.)

  O'Connor, James (Wicklow, W.

  Young, Samuel (Cavan, East)

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Gilhooly, James

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir Brampton Gurdon and Mr. Thomas Bayley.

  Goddard, Daniel Ford

  O'Dowd, John

  Hammond, John

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Hardie, J. Keir (MerthyrTydvil

  O'Kelly, James (Roscommon, N

  NOES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir Alex.F.

  Arcbdale, Edward Mervyn

  Bain. Colonel James Robert

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Baird, John George Alexander

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Balcarres, Lord

  Allen, Chas. P. (Glouc, Stroud

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Balfour, Rt. Hn. A. J. (Manch'r

  Allhusen, Augustus Henry E.

  Austin, Sir John

  Banbury, Frederick George

  Anson, Sir William Reynell

  Bailey, James (Walworth)

  Bartley, George C. T.

  Bathurst, Hn. Allen Benjamin

  Guthrie, Walter Murray 1

  Orr Ewing, Charles Lindsay

  Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

  Hain, Edward

  Palmer, Walter (Salisbury)

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Hall, Edward Marshall

  Partington, Oswald

  Bhownaggree, Sir M.' M.

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Bignold, Arthur

  Hamilton, RtHn. LordG(M 'd'x

  Pierpoint, Robert

  Bill, Charles

  Hamilton, Marq of (L'nd'nd'rry

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Hanbury, Rt. Hon. Robt. W.

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Bond, Edward

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashf'd)

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Boscawen, Arthur Griffith-

  Hare, Thomas Leigh

  Purvis, Robert

  Bowles, Capt. H. F. (Middlesex)

  Harris, F. Leverton (Tynem'th

  Randles, John S.

  Brassey, Albert

  Haslam, Sir Alfreds.'

  Rankin, Sir James

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Hay, Hon. Claude George

  Rasch, Major Frederic Carne

  Brookfield, Colonel Montagu

  Heath, A. Howard (Hanley)

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Brown, George M.J(Edinburgh)

  Heath, Jas. (Staffords., N. W.

  Remnant, James Farquharson

  Burdett-Gontts, W.

  Helder, Augustus

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Butcher, John George

  Hogg, Lindsay

  Renwick, George

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Hope, J. F. (Shef'ld, Brightside

  Ridley, Hn. M. W. (Stalybridge)

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Hoult, Joseph

  Ridley, S. Forde (BethnalGreen

  Cavendish, V. C.W. (Derbysh)

  Howard, Capt J (Kent, Faversh.

  Ritchie, Rt. Hon. Chas Thomson

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Jackson, Rt. Hon. Wm. L.

  Robertson, Herbert(Hackney)

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Jeffreys, Arthur Frederick

  Rolleston, Sir John F. L.

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. J. (Birm.

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Royds, Clement Molyneux

  Chamberlain, J Austen (Worc'r

  Kennaway, Rt. Hn. Sir John H.

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Chapman, Edward

  Kenyon, Hon. G. T. (Denbigh)

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Churchill, Winston Spencer

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop)

  Samuel, Harry S. (Limehouse)

  Cochrane, Hon. Thos. H. A. E.

  King, Sir Henry Seymour

  Sassoon, Sir Edward Albert

  Compton, Lord Alwyne

  Lambton, Hon. Frederick W.

  Saunderson, Rt. Hn Col. Edw. J.

  Cook, Sir Frederick Lucas

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Seeley, Charles Hilton (Lincoln

  Corbett, A. Cameron(Glasgow)

  Lawrence, William F.

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Corbett, T. L. (Down, North)

  Lawson, John Grant

  Shaw-Stewart, M. H. (Renfrew)

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Lee, Capt A. H. (Hants, Fareh'm

  Simeon, Sir Barrington

  Cross, Alexander (Glasgow)

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Cross, H. Shepherd (Bolton)

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Skewes-Cox, Thomas

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Leveson-Gower, Frederick N.S.

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, East)

  Cust, Henry John C.

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Smith, HC (North'mbTyneside

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Long, Rt. Hn. Walter (Bristol, S

  Smith, James Parker(Lanarks)

  Dalrymple, Sir Charles

  Lowe, Francis William

  Spear, John Ward

  Davies, Sir Horatio D(Chatham

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Stanley, Hn. Arthur(Ormskirk

  Dewar, T.R.(T'rH'ml'ts,S.Geo

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs.)

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft

  Stewart, Sir Mark J. M'Taggart

  Dickson-Poynder, Sir John P.

  Lucas, Reginald J. (Portsmouth

  Stirling-Maxwell, Sir John M.

  Digby, John K. D. Wingfield-

  Lyttelton, Hon. Alfred

  Stock, James Henry

  Dimsdale, Sir J. Cockfield

  Macartney, Rt. Hn W. G. Ellison

  Stone, Sir Benjamin

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Stroyan, John

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Maconochie, A. W.

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Dunn, Sir William

  M'Iver, Sir L. (Edinburgh, W.

  Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napier

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  M'Killop, James (Stirlingshire

  Talbot, Lord E.(Chichester)

  Dyke Rt. Hn.Sir William Hart

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Talbot, Rt. Hn. J. G (Oxf'dUniv.

  Egerton, Hon. A. de Tatton

  Malcolm, Ian

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Elibank, Master of

  Manners, Lord Cecil

  Tollemache, Henry James

  Emmott, Alfred

  Martin, Richard Biddulph

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Fergusson, Rt Hn Sir J (Manchr)

  Maxwell, W. J. H. (Dumfriessh.

  Valentia, Viscount

  Fielden, Edw. Brocklehurst

  Melville, Beresford Valentine

  Walker, Col. William Hall

  Finch, George H.

  Mildmay, Francis Bingham

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  Finlay, Sir Rbt. Bannatyne

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Warr, Augustus Frederick

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Wason, John Cathcart (Orkney

  Fitzroy, Hon. Edw. Algernon

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Webb, Col. William George

  Fletcher, Sir Henry

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Welby, Lt. -Col. A. C. E. (T'nton

  Garfit, William

  More, R. Jasper (Shropshire)

  Whiteley, H. (Ashton-under-L.

  Gibbs, Hn A.G.H. (CityofLond.

  Morgan, D. J. (Walthamstow)

  William's, Col. R. (Dorset)

  Gibbs, Hn. Vicary (St. Albans)

  Morgan, Hon. F. (Monm'thsh.

  Willox, Sir John Archibald

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fred.

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Wilson, A. Stanley (York, E.R.

  Gordon, Hn. J.E. (Elgin&Nairn

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Wilson, John (Falkirk)

  Gore, Hon. F. S. Ormsby-

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Gorst, Rt. Hn. Sir John E.

  Morton, A. H. A. (Deptford)

  Wilson, J. W. (Worcestersh. N.

  Goschen, Hon. George J.

  Mount, William Arthur

  Wolff, Gustav Wilhelm

  Goulding, Edward Alfred

  Mowbray, Sir Robert Gray C.

  Wortley, Rt. Hon. C. B. Stuart-

  Gray, Ernest (West Ham)

  Murray, Rt Hn A Graham (Bute

  Wrightson, Sir Thomas

  Greene, Sir E W (B'ryS. Edm'ds

  Murray, Charles J. (Coventry

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.

  Murray, Col, Wyndham (Bath)

  Grenfell, William Henry

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Gretton, John

  Nicholson, William Graham

  Greville, Hon. Ronald

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Groves, James Grimble

  O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

  Original Question again proposed.

  SOUTH AFRICAN WAR—HOSPITAL COMMISSION'S REPORT.
  MR. BURDETT-COUTTS (West-minster): I regret that the consideration of the Report of the South African Hospitals Commission, which deals with a subject which has moved the nation for a considerable time, should come on at an hour when it will be impossible, without overtaxing the patience of the Committee, to deal with it adequately, and therefore I will make an appeal before going on to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House. It is this. Whether, considering that we have practically had no opportunity of debating this subject since the Report of the Commission was issued, considering the great interest which, I think, is felt on this subject, and considering also the opinions of the Commission, he would not consent to give a day or half a day for the discussion of the Report at any time he may find it convenient to do so. I should be content with this being given after Easter. I think I am able to say that if he could offer us a fair opportunity of discussing this very important subject the opposition to the Vote, which cannot possibly be successful, would not be persevered in.
  MR. A. J. BALFOUR: The hon. Gentleman is not content with the opportunity he has now; but it is not very late, it is still early (1 2.5 a.m.). But if, in spite of that reflection, he still thinks that he would like some other opportunity. I think it would be in order on the Vote for the War Office, but this Vote must go on I should be quite glad to put down the Vote we have been discussing, or rather the whole body of Supply, as the first item on Monday for Report, and if the House consented to pass over the Votes which have been relatively fully discussed to-night, then the hon. Gentleman and those who desire to see the medical question raised will, of course, have ample opportunity of discussing it. If the opportunity of debate which I offer him on Monday does not fit in with his desire, then there will be a later opportunity of discussing the question on the Estimates.
  SIR WALTER FOSTER: I wish to understand this matter clearly. I quite coincide with the appeal that has been made to the First Lord of the Treasury with the view of getting a fuller discussion of the subject. Does the right hon. Gentleman propose that the Report stage should be taken early on Monday as the first Order, so that this question may be discussed?
  MR. A. J. BALFOUR: Of course, the first Order would be the Order for the whole body of Supply. It could only be so by the rules of the House; but if the House were content to pass lightly and I rapidly over the Votes we have discussed, so as to come quickly to the questions which we have not hitherto discussed, then, of course, full opportunity of debate would be given to the hon. Gentleman. I am in the hands of the House in the matter. I shall be glad to put that down first on Monday, immediately after Questions.
  MR. BURDETT-COUTTS: The Mom day promise appears to be contingent on circumstances which it is impossible to foresee. Therefore, if I have not exhausted my right of speaking, I think it would not be respectful to the House of Commons or to the Committee if, after having passed some stringent criticisms on the action of this Commission in another form, I were not willing to support those criticisms on the occasion of this Vote, or not ready to meet any answer that may be made to them. I hope I am the last person to put things in the papers on public subjects which I am unwilling to back up in my place in Parliament.
  I believe that the Secretary of State for War, whose attitude on this question I venture to express my great appreciation of, intends to deal out reforms with no niggard hand. There is only one question with regard to which I am not absolutely clear, that is, how far he proposes to rest upon the results of this

  519
  inquiry, for which we are now voting a large sum of public money, and how far he proposes to confine himself to its suggestions in framing his scheme of reform. I believe that if he does so his reforms will be a total failure, because I think the inquiry has been partial and imperfect, the conclusions lame and impotent, and the main suggestions of reform are framed on the wrong lines. I consider it a very grave matter that at this moment, when the Army is a subject of great national interest and great national anxiety, one of its chief Departments should have been investigated in a manner which has resulted in casting over its defects a cloak which has not only concealed the real nature and extent of the defects themselves, but has concealed their causes and the responsibility for them. We condemn a general for inaction in the field, but when we come to a more peaceful Department of the Army, but one in which inaction and mismanagement have far more deadly results, we are content to be silent as to cause and effect, and silent as to responsibility.
  What was this Commission? Was it a tribunal appointed with a due regard to the peculiar circumstances by which the inquiry would be surrounded, setting forth equipped with ample powers to meet those circumstances, and to pierce the wall of official defence that was certain to be set up? No, Sir. It had none of those powers which were essential to its work, and the consequence is that weakness, inconclusiveness, and partiality run through every page of its Report. Sir, it is not my object to discuss the Report so much as the inquiry which has been held; and the imperfections of this inquiry I prefer to attribute to the absence of compulsory powers. Why those powers were not given in the first instance I could never understand. But I am not going back on that subject, because once the Government had determined to send the Commission out without powers, the Government is freed to a large extent from its responsibility by having left it to the Commission to ask for the powers if necessary. From this point the blame rests on the Commission. But wherever the blame lies, the result is the same.
  520
  What has been the result of the absence of powers? I take it from the Report itself:—
  "We have also Had to recognise that our private soldiers are very slow in making complaints."
  Why did not the Commission ask for compulsory powers?
  "Witnesses… would only state the facts which they thought assisted their own views. and by keeping back other information… would tend to give a false impression as to the true state of things."
  They could not get their questions answered. Compulsory powers, which would have included taking evidence on oath and compelling the answering of questions, would have made this vain and futile examination impossible. At any moment the Commission might have obtained those powers. That is the declaration of the Commission—that the soldiers would not give evidence, that witnesses would not answer questions. May I be pardoned if I remind the Committee that when I stated this here last summer I was told that my evidence on that account was to be discredited, and that I was insulting the whole British Army. When the Commission state it they are rewarded with a medical baronetcy and a legal Grand Cross of the Bath. I do not want to interfere with gentlemen getting these distinctions if they like them; but I wish they had been ear-marked as rewards for undertaking a laborious task rather than as implying approval of the manner in which the inquiry had been conducted.
  Now, Sir, I want to say two things about this remarkable declaration or confession of the Commission about the difficulties of getting evidence. If the Commission had placed it at the head of their Report instead of wrapping it up in an obscure paragraph, we should have known how to estimate the nature of the inquiry, and how to appreciate the value of the Report. The second thing I have to say is, When did the Commission find this out? Was it at Netley, when they were first appointed? Was it at Cape Town, a little later? Where was it? In any case why did they not apply to Lord

  521
  Roberts for compulsory powers? He could have given them under martial law by a stroke of his pen. as he gave them to the Concessions Commission presided over by my hon. friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington. But the Commission chose to go on without them. I have drawn attention elsewhere to what I bare called a "sinister corollary to the absence of powers, and that was the presence of an overwhelming organisation supervising the inquiry, choosing the witnesses, producing the greater part of the evidence, acting as amicus curiœ, throughout the investigation; whereas there was not the slightest attempt at organisation, there was not a single guiding voice or assisting hand to help the other side. Sir. I do not want to inquire who was to blame for this state of things. All I say is that it is not within the widest stretch of imagination that an inquiry so circumstanced could arrive at the truth.
  The Commission discard the suggestion that there was any possibility of their getting evidence as to what had taken place in April and May by a personal inspection of the hospitals at the time of their visit to South Africa: the "magic transformation scene" which took place within a week of the disclosures in the press and in this House, and which to my mind is the very strongest possible proof establishing previous official neglect, had cleared away most of its traces.
  But there was no concealment about the getting up of the case. Two officers of the Royal Army Medical Corps were appointed to go round the hospitals, select the evidence, and prepare the way for the Commission. One of these returning home stated in public, while the Commission was still sitting—
  "Everything was as perfect as possible. Everything that mortal knowledge and foresight could supply was at hand. Many of the hospitals generated their own electric light and manufactured their own soda water."
  This was the picture presented to the Commission which was appointed to inquire into the bell-tents at Bloemfontein in the months of April and May ! I seem to hear the echo of the speeches at the Reform Club banquet on April 29th:"Everything that prevision could suggest or money supply was present on the spot."
  522
  Now it may be stated, in fact I think I have seen it stated in a high quarter, that these two officers were appointed to collect the whole evidence, that is, as much against as for the authorities. Very well. I want to call the attention of the Committee to something more about those two gentlemen who were appointed to get up the ease. It is contained in a letter from the Chaplain to the Forces at Norval's Font. The proceedings are thus described in a letter to the President of the Commission printed in the evidence, which runs as follows—
  "To the Right Hon. Lord Justice Homer, Chairman of the Royal South African Hospitals Commission.—About 2nd August two majors of the R.A.M.C. came to Norval's Pont, saying that Lord Roberts had sent them to visit all the military hospitals in South Africa, and ascertain where there was evidence for the Hospital Commission, and then to meet the Commissioners in Cape Town, and act as guides to them. To one of those gentlemen I told some of the distressing things that had come to my notice here; for example, how during May enteric and dysenteric patients had to walk 400 yards to a latrine; how. during June, there were, first, no bedpans, disinfectants, or nurses, although the war had passed away north in the middle of March, and the railways from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth were clear, and the neighbouring civil hospital, the Edinburgh, had all it needed; how so-called convalescents arrived here actually suffering with enteric, and were sent on again somewhere else a few days later; and how I had seen them crouching or lying by the railway line for hours before a train was due. Mention was alse made in our conversations of the fact that a Board of Inquiry into hospital officers' mess expenses had sat, as a result of which, while these two gentlemen were still here, the Senior Medical Officer was suspended; and also of the fact that letters home of a civil surgeon here, commenting severely on the treatment of the sick and wounded, had got into a local newspaper, and so into The Times. Yet this officer, giving evidence before your Commission in Cape Town, said ' There was no cause for complaint of any kind at Norval's Pont.' "—Cape Times report, 22nd August.
  This was one of the officers who got up the case for the Commission, and that is my answer if it is contended that they were ordered to do their work impartially.
  Sir. I repeat that the absence of powers on the one hand, and the presence of such an organisation on the other, should have made the Commission ten times more careful with regard to its proceedings. I have complained of the inadequate number of patients examined. Who

  523
  could so well tell of the treatment of the sick and wounded as the man who was treated? The refusal to hear, or want of care in hearing, patients' evidence was a grave infringement of the Reference to the Commission as amended by the words of the First Lord of the Treasury—"a Commission to inquire into the care and treatment of every sick and wounded man in South Africa. "I do not want to press that amended Reference too literally, but I say that the peculiar circumstances of the case demanded the fullest and most careful examination of soldier-patients.
  Now as to the method in which patients were examined. There was not only the state visit to Netley, when they examined on a single afternoon, in the wards of the hospital, seventy out of the 154 soldier-patients examined during the whole inquiry; but nearly all the other patients were examined in batches in hospitals, their comrades and officers knowing perfectly well the sort of evidence they were going to give and had given. Is it not incredible that this method of examination should have been adopted, when the Commissioners themselves say, "especially while the men are in hospital, they may be deterred from complaining by fear of consequences." The Commission condemns itself out of its own mouth. To hear these soldiers who have been the real sufferers, and have seen their comrades suffer and die; to hear them, not on formal visits to hospitals, surrounded by official supervision and many other deterrent conditions, but individually and apart, and by careful examination to get out their whole story; finally, to hear them in the largest possible number, especially with regard to the times and places which led to the inquiry—these methods were more essential to a just conclusion than volumes of evidence from official and Army medical authorities, placed on their defence, and practically monopolising the witness-box.
  Up to this point I have complained (1)of the absence of compulsory powers;(2)of the presence of a watchful and omnipotent organisation on one side of the case, with nothing of the sort on the other, and of the getting up of the
  524
  case by two officers of the Department which was on its trial; (3) of the inadequate number of private soldiers examined; (4) of the fatally deterrent conditions under which they were heard. I will now ask the Committee to listen to a few further facts which I desire to lay before it.

  1. At the time the Commission were appointed there must have been in this country some 3,000 or 4,000 soldiers who had been patients in the hospitals, and at the times of which I complain. The record of every patient who bad been in hospital, what hospital he had been in, when he had been there, how long he had stayed, was in the hands of the Department. Was any real effort made to search out these men or to take their evidence? There was the afternoon visit to Netley; the patients there were taken haphazard. That was all.

  2. The Committee will remember that one of the main points to which his attention was directed last summer, one of the main things that led to the appointment of the Commission, was a description I gave of a certain field hospital at Bloemfontein. The Commission recognised the importance of the case. They devoted two whole pages to it, and they came to a feeble and most inconclusive verdict. Now, Sir, before the appointment of the Commission at least 1,000 soldiers must have passed through that hospital as patients. As far as I can see, and I have examined the evidence very closely, not a single man who was in that hospital as a patient was examined before the Commission.

  3. Take another ease, the case of the eight patients on the platform at the Bloemfontein railway station. I have pointed out how the Commission, in spite of my personal evidence, who was there; in spite of the evidence of the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley, who was also there; in spite of the evidence of the civilian medical officer who received the patients at the Irish hospital—the Commission accept the story of the Principal Medical Officer, who was really responsible for the scandal, and recite it as their own verdict upon this painful affair. But, Sir, what I want to ask is this. Why did they not

  525
  call at least one of the seven surviving men of that incident? Not one was called.

  4. One of the strongest complaints I have made against the medical arrangements was the bad feeding of convoys of sick and wounded sent by train, mostly in open trucks. How does the Commission pursue its inquiry into this matter? Out of 154 patients who were examined only seven were asked questions about their feeding on trains. Four of these stated they only got bully beef and biscuits. That is how the Commission inquired into the important question of the feeding of these convoys, and that is the basis of their verdict.

  From Blocmfontein: "We think that sufficient and proper food and medical comforts were provided for them." From Kroonstad: "As a rule, we think that proper food and comforts were provided for the men on the journey." General conclusions; "Before the men started on any journey they were, as a rule, well supplied with such comforts, as well as with proper food."
  The Committee will notice that my last four points have been:—(1) That no real effort was made to obtain patients' evidence with regard to the places and times of which I complained; (2) that no patient in the crowded field hospital was examined; (3) that not one of the sick men on the platform was examined; (4)that practically no evidence with regard to the feeding of convoys in trains was taken.
  I will now deal with two individual but important instances of the methods of the Commission with regard to evidence. I take first a letter from the Archbishop of Cape Town, who writes as follows—
  "The Hospitals Commission is returning this week. Whether the result will justify their mission is, I think, very doubtful. There can he no doubt but that while the defence was thoroughly and completely organised, the fact that it was no one's real business to make the attack made the case against the authorities very difficult to establish…
  "I had said all I knew, or the most important part of it, on paper and forwarded it to the secretary. But in spite of this they so strongly urged me to meet them that, though it involved much inconvenience to myself and to others, and caused me an additional journey of 600 miles, I came to Cape Town—to be asked two or three questions, which [ had already answered on paper, and to be dismissed after about live minutes. When I wished to hand
  526
  in some evidence afterwards about the serious deficiency in hospital equipment even at the hospitals near Cape Town, I was somewhat curtly informed that the Commissioners desired no further information on that point…
  "For one thing one may be thankful. I have heard it said far and wide that from the moment the controversy was raised in England and here, the comforts of the patients were much better attended to."
  Now, Sir, what is the point here? I put aside the peculiar treatment meted out to a high dignitary of the Church busily engaged performing the functions of his office and dragged 600 miles up to Cape Town to have two or three questions put to him. The real point is that he tendered new evidence with regard to the base hospitals, and that that evidence was peremptorily declined.
  Now let us look at the verdict of the Commission about the base hospitals. They quote the opinion of the staff' commander at the base, who was really in a military sense responsible for the condition of the hospitals—
  "They were all housed, and all had good mattresses to lie on, and were well looked after—much better than I have ever seen on service elsewhere."
  I wonder if he has ever seen a campaign where the base was at a great town and a great port provided with every comfort that the world could supply. But that is not my point. The Commission made up their mind with regard to the base hospitals and they did not want any more evidence. Now, Sir, I am not a lawyer, but I put it to any lawyer here present—Did he over hear of a judge or a jury refusing new evidence and then making up their mind in favour of the side against whom that evidence would tell? That is exactly what the Commission did in this case.
  There is another case which I mentioned in one of my letters and which is so similar to that I have just related that I will remind the Committee of it here. It is connected with what is known as the "Intombi Scandal." With regard to that matter the Committee print the evidence of two Army medical officers, and the evidence of an Army Service Corps officer who was appointed by Sir George White to inquire into the matter. The latter officer gave evidence against

  527
  the medical arrangements. The Commission give their usual verdict—
  "But we think, after making all just allowances, that no complaint can reasonably be made with regard to the steps taken by the authorities or the way in which the patients were looked after."
  I may say that the main complaint against Intombi was the stealing of the patient's food and comforts by the orderlies and non-commissioned officers. But that is not the point I want to make. There was another Court of Inquiry into Intombi, which is actually referred to in the evidence, composed of three officers, and one of these officers wrote to the Commission stating that the evidence taken before that Court would be of great value, suggesting that they should call for it, and offering himself to appear as a witness before the Commission. He was not called, and he never had any answer to his letter. And yet the Commission say there was no just cause of complaint as to the way in which the patients were looked after. This officer who wrote to the Commission is a well-known member of the Natal Legislature, and served throughout the war with considerable distinction as an officer of the Natal Volunteers. He naturally feels somewhat strongly on the subject, and writes—
  "If the hospitals were a scandal it seems that the work of the Commission is going to be a greater scandal."
  Now, Sir, I put this opinion of a leading colonist side by side with that of the Archbishop of Cape Town—and if time served me I could give other equally strong and authoritative opinions from the Colony—and I want to ask the Committee, Is this the lesson we want our colonies to learn of our methods in such a matter? Remember, far and wide over there they have seen and known what happened. Their own sons and brothers and husbands and fathers have suffered from our mismanagement of this great Department of the campaign. And we tell them that this is the sort of inquiry into those thing with which England is content, and we ask these young administrations to accept this model, stamped with the mother country's high authority and honour, of how we conduct our public business and how we guard the interests of truth
  528
  and justice, in a matter of life and death. Ho you think this will increase the love and honour of the colonies for the mother country? Do you think this will strengthen the tie which at best depends on the moral force of a high example, upon that purer conception of public life and that more just and honest regard for public truth, which the colonies look for from the sovereign government and the Mother of Parliaments?
  I have spoken much of the evidence the Commission did not take. I now desire to say a few words about how they treated certain evidence they did take. At Pretoria, when the Commission had but half completed its inquiry, Lord Roberts gave evidence. As is well known, Lord Roberts's evidence was highly favourable to the medical arrangements in the war. I am not going to discuss the opinion of Lord Roberts on this subject. I am only dealing with the action of the Commission. Lord Roberts's evidence was published the next day throughout South Africa. Sir, the publication of that evidence from that moment closed the mouth of every officer in the British Army. What is the custom in courts-martial and councils of war? Is it not that the junior officer gives his opinion first and so on upwards in the successive ranks, the opinion of the senior officer being taken last, in order that it should not affect the free expression of opinion by his subordinates? The case is infinitely stronger here. All the witnesses had to come forward voluntarily. Who was Lord Roberts? He was the most popular commander of modern times. He was Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in South Africa. He was the future Commander-in-Chief of the British Army. Talk about insulting the Army ! Did not the real insult lie in placing officers in a position where they must either condemn the views of their Commander-in-Chief or be silent as to evils from which they knew their men had suffered? What did we hear the other night from the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Colonies? That when Lord Roberts had given his decision, it was not permissible even for the House of Commons to discuss the merits of the case or to have any opinion. A fortiori,

  529
  how could you expect officers of the Army to come forward, not under compulsion, but spontaneously and of their own free will, to contradict the authoritative opinion and traverse the published decision of their Commander-in-Chief? Mr. Lowther, the publication of Lord Roberts's evidence by the Commission before they closed their sittings was the greatest barrier that was ever placed against the truth coming out in an inquiry like this.
  Sir, I will make but a brief reference to what I frankly own I think the greatest blot in the history of the Commission, and that is the refusal to hear the witnesses I offered to send before them. I had spent four months collecting this evidence; it came from the most capable and intelligent set of eye-witnesses I have ever met. brave men who scorned to complain of hardships in the field, but whose practical common-sense had been offended by seeing men suffer and die from defects in hospitals which they knew were easily remediable and had nothing to do with military exigencies. The Commission had been all along in the hands of the Department. They had practically promised to take the evidence in England on their return; they refused to do so. I leave this matter, and the only inference that can be drawn from it, to the Committee and the public. All I say is that, had they heard those witnesses, it would have been impossible for them to have presented such a weak and vacillating Report.
  I will now refer to a very grave omission in the Report. We have heard something about the bad feeding of patients in trains. Does the Committee really know how the results of that neglect were averted? Throughout the whole campaign, for a year and a half, these trains have been slowly dragging down to the base with their convoys of sick and wounded, and throughout the whole campaign their feeding and refreshment on the way has been largely done, not by the military or medical authorities whose duty it was, but by the voluntary aid and great kindness of the civilian population all along the line, most of which ran through a sparsely inhabited area. Many of these people are poor and hard-worked.
  530
  They have given their time, their savings, their labour to this humane and loyal service—little stationmasters' wives and daughters, even porters' and platelayers' womenfolk; they have waited up all night keeping a fire lighted to make beef-tea or warm milk, or other nourishment suitable for the painful complaints of the patients. It was a most important part of the medical arrangements, into which this Commission was to inquire. Was there no place for an adequate reference to it in the Report, if not by way of tribute, at least in recognition of its importance in the medical arrangements? No, none; because it was not done by officials or by a Department. So in this Report, which I suppose will be the authoritative and historic record of the medical arrangements in the war, this continuous chain of generosity and self-sacrifice, reaching over 700 miles of that railway, displayed by the humble and loyal colonists to the vast armies which have poured into that country, goes entirely unacknowledged. I deeply regret it.
  Sir, the complexion which colours the Report throughout is shown to be fatal when we come to the Commission's suggestions of reform. Whatever is firm—and it is very little—is partial to the Department; whatever is not partial to the Department is feeble to a degree. I can only very briefly touch on some of their proposals.
  They recommend first—first, mark you—the increase of the Royal Army Medical Corps. It is quite true that lower down they admit that the scientific status of the corps ought to be improved; but they treat the subject in a very half-hearted way. They miss altogether another instance where surely a tribute was due, but none has been paid, and which also touches closely the question of reform. The Committee has heard of the New South Wales Medical Contingent, with its fine field hospital and gallant bearer company. It was the only colonial medical service in the war. It was a sort of militia service, but its medical officers were mostly distinguished medical men in the colonies, who left their practices and gave their services. Their staff, non-coms., and orderlies were splendidly disciplined and efficient. There was no stealing patients'

  531
  money and property in the New South Wales Field Hospital. Wherever there was firing the New South Wales Bearer Company was sure to be close at hand at the right moment. Yet. with the exception of a brief and colourless mention, there is no tribute of any kind to this splendid colonial service in that department of the campaign which the Commission was sent out to inquire into. No; it did not belong to the Department. But surely the lesson is an important one in these days, when the extension of the auxiliary forces plays such a large part in this Army scheme. It is absolutely lost on the Commission. They do not inquire into, the, make no comment on, its bearing on the question of enlargement of the Medical Service.

  But in their treatment of the question of civilian aid you see how the spirit of the Department, grasping at complete control, has permeated the Commission, and set them on the wrong track in this matter. They recommend the mixing up of the Royal Army Medical Corps officers with civilian doctors in medical work—the private hospitals which did such splendid work in the campaign, such as the Yeomanry, the Irish, Scotch, Welsh, and many others. These hospitals, with complete civilian staffs and only one Royal Army Medical Corps officer to form a link with other departments, afford an irrefutable proof of the value of self-rganised, self-controlled, independent civilian medical aid, and of the facility with which it can be applied for the period it is required.
  Sir, that is my case—or, rather, a small part of my case—against the inquiry that has been held. The inquiry has failed to give any true picture of the extent of the evils, has failed to point out any of the causes, and has failed to push home any of the responsibilities; and by the manner of conducting its proceedings, by the refusal of evidence and the failure to take the right evidence, and by allowing itself to fall into the hands of an organisation on one side of the case, it has reflected grave discredit on English public life. For these reasons I have appealed, and I appeal again, to the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for War to
  532
  go outside of the Report which has resulted from such an inquiry, and to take larger and more practical views in framing his reforms than are to be found in that document.
  And, Sir, I venture to make another appeal to the Government, an appeal which perhaps it would not be in order, in connection with this Vote in Supply, for me to make in any larger or more specific terms than by stating this. If we have entered on an era when the demands of our position call not so much for new legislation as that we should put our house in order, and if that can only be done in every department by a full, searching, and relentless investigation of its defects, then the worst model we can adopt for that process, and the weakest and rottenest basis of reform, will be this farce of an inquiry for which we arc now voting this large sum of public money.
  MR. DALZIELsaid he was sure ho was expressing the opinion of many hon Members on both sides of the House that the hon. Gentleman had no need to make any apology for the very important and valuable speech to which they had just listened. He thought they ought to all associate themselves in the protest that a question of this magnitude and far-reaching importance should be discussed at one o'clock in the morning. He did not say anything about who was responsible; but he called it a public scandal that the only opportunity they had of discussing a matter in which the lives of thousands of our countrymen were involved should be at that hour in the morning. He wished to draw the attention of the Secretary for War to one or two statements on which ho thought they were entitled to some explanation. He agreed with the hon. Gentleman that a Commission without powers to take evidence on oath could not present a Report which would be satisfactory. Take the case of the Belfast Riots Commission, where only a few lives were concerned. That

  533
  Commission reported that it would be useless to take evidence unless on oath. Not only had the South African Commission no power to take evidence on oath, but they had no power to protect witnesses, and anyone giving evidence was liable to official criticism and censure. He would point out that the Report itself stated that the Royal Army Medical Corps was totally insufficient, and was so constituted that it could not be materially enlarged or have its deficiencies made good, and that these deficiencies were felt throughout the whole of the South African campaign. It then went on to state that for a considerable time before the outbreak of the war the necessity for increasing the staff of the Royal Army Medical Corps was urged upon the military authorities, but for the most part without avail. That was a direct charge that, the corps being insufficient, recommendations had been made that it ought to be increased, and that those recommendations had not been acted upon. The Committee was entitled to know who were responsible for that inaction and neglect. Why was it that when responsible people at the head of the Royal Army Medical Corps recommended that the corps should be increased no attention whatever was paid to their recommendations? That was a very serious charge against the Government, meriting some notice from the right hon. Gentleman in his reply.
  There was one other point. At the out break of the war the hon. Member for the Ilkeston Division pointed out the inevitable results of typhoid in South Africa, and suggested that a special Commission should go out to assist the Army doctors with their experience. That Suggestion was rejected by the authorities on the ground that there was not the same need of special assistance with regard to sanitary matters as with surgical operations. But recently the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State had gone entirely back on that position. and had practically censured the Government by saying that he thought the experience of the war had shown that a Committee of that character would have done good service. It certainly seemed that that refusal required some? explanation.
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  The points he put to the right hon. Gentleman were: Why was it that we went to war with the Royal Army Medical Corps not even up to peace strength and altogether unfit to deal with the conflict in which we were engaged; and, secondly, what justification was there for the Government in not adopting the suggestion with regard to taking proper sanitary precautions? The Committee had every confidence that the right hon. Gentleman would take advantage of the Report and act upon it, but that was not the whole question. We had to do with a state of things in the past which it was no good hushing up or attempting to discuss at one o'clock in the morning. In that Report there were sufficient charges to demand an explanation from the Government, because upon them, after all, rested the responsibility for the neglect.
  SIR WALTER FOSTER, having taken an interest in this matter from the beginning, felt bound to say that he was startled and pained by the very grave position in which they found themselves. The hon. Member for Westminster had levelled against the Commission some of the most serious charges ever made against any public inquiry, and which really deserved the grave consideration of the Government. It had been shown that the Commission started without proper powers and never took the trouble to arm itself with those powers; that it refused evidence over and over again; and that citizens of high standing were invited to attend and then the evidence they were prepared to give was practically refused. In the Report the Commissioners themselves virtually admitted the whole case brought forward in the House before the Commission was constituted, for on page 39 they stated—
  "We think that the deficiencies of the staff at Bloemfontein were not thoroughly realised as soon as they might have been, and that more doctors might have been obtained and sent up so as to supply these deficiencies earlier. We cannot think that the deficiencies of transport, which we are fully aware of, could have

  535
  prevented doctors being obtained and sent into the town."
  The same remarks applied to the lack of nurses. That was an admission of the whole case with regard to the unfortunate men who died at Bloemfontein, and the Report, from beginning to end, if read between the lines, admitted most of the charges which were made in the House.
  There were many things which struck one in analysing the Report. In any thorough inquiries, even without professional experience, if animated by a desire to get at the bottom of the matter, one of the first things would he to state the death rate from typhoid fever. But there was nothing of that sort in this document. One gathered from Lord Roberts's telegram that the death rate at that date was about twenty-one per cent. It was as low as twelve and a half in some hospitals and under eight per cent. in others, but there was nothing whatever in the Report to show why our men had died at the rate of twenty-one, or in some places twenty-three per cent. With regard to the supply of beds, it was laid down by authorities on all hands that the minimum supply should be equal to ten per cent. of the force. That question the Commission did not attempt to grapple with, and in the Report it was almost impossible to find the number of beds at any time available for the Army. On the information he had from time to time received it seemed that at no period was the minimum of ten per cent. provided. At the beginning of the active advance there were about 116,000 soldiers in South Africa, and, on the widest computation, only 9,000 instead of 11,600 beds. When the number of men had reached 184,000, the beds numbered only about 12,000, instead of 18,400, so that apparently as the Army increased, the medical appliances and the provisions for the comfort of the troops became less. Even in the middle of last year, after all the debates in the House and the efforts of the War Office to supply the deficiencies, the proper proportion of beds had not been supplied. Taking the Report as it stood, and analysing the figures given as to beds, it presented a very grave condemnation of the medical
  536
  arrangements in connection with the war. The most amusing thing—if anything concerning this matter could be amusing—was that the only conclusion the Commission, after holding its inquiry in South Africa, could come to. was that another Committee should be appointed to do the work they did not do. The Leader of the House had stated that the object of the Commission was to inquire into the treatment of every wounded and sick soldier in South Africa; but that was the very thing the Commission had not done. They had gone altogether on the wrong track, and the responsibility, no matter on whom it rested, was a very grave one. Instead of carrying out the object with which they were sent, the Commission inquired into the efficiency of the Royal Army Medical Corps, with the view, apparently, of preparing a defence. The Royal Army Medical Corps was not attacked in the House. Mistakes doubtless were made by the corps; there were some bad officers among them, but bad officers I had been discovered in almost every branch of the Army in the course of the campaign, and the Royal Army Medical Corps was no worse than other depart- merits. Some men did not do their duty, but, taken man for man, he believed that the Royal Army Medical Corps in this campaign had deserved as well of the country as any other branch of the military service. But the great complaint was that the corps was undermanned from the beginning, and, with all the additions the right hon. Gentleman had been able to make, it was still about 100 less than it was forty years ago. That in itself was a scandal.
  THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN (Mr. STUART WORTLEY. Sheffield, Hallam)reminded the hon. Member that the Vote under discussion was for the Commission of Inquiry, and that it would be out of order to discuss thereon the policy of the War Office with regard to the organisation of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
  SIR WALTER FOSTERdid not wish to go into the question of the re-organisation of the Army Medical Corps. The Report of the Commission assigned

  537
  its defects to the underimanning of that department, and the result was that we had had to fall back upon civil surgeons. He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman how he proposed to follow out the recommendations contained in the Report with reference to the Army Medical Corps Corps.
  THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: It is impossible for an answer to be given to such a question upon this Vote.
  SIR WALTER FOSTERsaid that apparently those recommendations did not come within the purview of the Vote, but he would be able to ask his question, no doubt, on the Army Medical Vote. That would be no inconvenience to him, and perhaps it would be better to discuss it then. The Army Medical Department, in endeavouring to meet the deficiencies, had had to rely upon sending out a large number of civil surgeons. He thought we were bound to recognise that those civil surgeons had rendered a vast amount of service, but they had not received the same amount of consideration that they might have done in view of the large number sent out and the good work they had done. Over 300 of them had been sent out. We had about 468 members of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and no less than 385 civil surgeons had been doing similar work. That additional staff which was obtained during the difficulties in South Africa, was a measure of what we should require in order to meet similar difficulties in the future. He wished to get out of this debate and out of this Report such a consideration of the whole question, as would lessen the sufferings of the soldier on his campaigns in the future by preventing, whore-ever possible, the spread of preventible diseases. The Army Medical Department must be kept in such a state of efficiency that what had been called scandals might not occur in the future. It was true that this Report said that there was no such thing as a hospital scandal, but he thought that statement went a little
  538
  too far. Those who had read the Appendix of the Report must admit that there was a want of proper organisation on the part of the Army medical officers, and a want of supply of those ordinary creature comforts which were absolutely necessary in sickness. The absence of those led not only to an enormous amount of needless suffering, but also to the sacrifice of hundreds of lives. He knew that the right hon. Gentleman was in no way responsible for this, but ho hoped that under his régime steps would be taken to prevent a repetition of what he thought was one of the most painful features of this campaign, by which many lives had been lost which might, under more favourable conditions, have been saved.
  *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOE WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,): I do not think that the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy was quite fair when he said that this was a very inconvenient occasion, and, at the same time, the only occasion upon which this subject could be discussed. The hon. Member will remember that we had some discussion on the subject, including a speech from the hon. Member for Westminster, on the King's Speech. Possibly some hours debate has been devoted to less important subjects which might have been devoted to this question. The position at this moment is that we are invited to consider how this Commission performed its duty. My hon. friend the Member for Westminster has made a most vehement attack upon the character of this inquiry and the principles which have guided them. In the few words I propose to say I would like to ask, as a matter of common sense, on what grounds are these motives imputed to this Commission? What can possibly be the grounds upon which my hon. friend thinks he has discovered in the whole action of this Commission the sinister motives of a determination to shield the Army Medical Corps, to burke the inquiry, and to report something that will be favour-

  539
  able to the military authorities? What can be the motive of these independent gentlemen—not one of whom, so far as I know, has anything to gain in the matter from the Government—doing this? They are all independent men with nothing to gain by such action; they are men of the highest character, and what can be the motive which would induce them to act in the way the hon. Member for Westminster says they have acted? I am at a loss to understand what their motive could be.
  MR. BURDETT-COUTTS: I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that I did not give my opinions, but I confined myself to giving the facts with regard to the inquiry. I had to give a précis of my speech, and I devoted the whole of my remarks to facts and incidents.
  *MR. BRODRICK: I hold no brief for the Hospitals Commission, but I know that they are a body of thoroughly high-minded gentlemen who gave an immense amount of time and hard work to this subject, who travelled a great many thousand miles, and who took up this inquiry for a public purpose, and reported on matters as they found them-If their Report is not altogether satisfactory to my hon. friend and to some other hon. Members of this House, I can only say that so far as I am concerned I do not feel that I am bound by the four corners of this Report as to what requires to be done in the Army. In the nature of things it cannot be an exhaustive Report. Looking at this matter quite impartially, I think the hon. Member cast a very unmerited slur upon the Commission when he said that these gentlemen concluded their labours by appointing a Committee to do the very work which they had been appointed to do. That was not an accurate statement of the facts. This Commission was appointed to consider and report
  540
  upon the care and treatment of the sick and wounded during the South African campaign. They may or may not have carried out that instruction to the satisfaction of some hon. Members of this House, but I think they were fully justified in recommending the appointment of a Committee to inquire into and report on the steps needed to attract in the futurea sufficient supply of medical officers and nurses. This Committee which is suggested deals with the future and not with the past. I think hon. Gentlemen who have spoken have pushed these matters against the Commission a great deal too far. I am not going to weary the Committee by dealing in detail with the points raised in the very vigorous indictment which my hon. friend has made, but I wish to refer to a statement which ho made with regard to Lord Roberts. The hon. Member said, with a great appearance of force, that Lord Roberts having been called as a witness at Pretoria, it was obvious that no private soldier who afterwards gave evidence would be anxious to give a different opinion. That statement no doubt impressed many hon. Members with the idea that nothing like fair evidence would be obtained. To prove this I think the hon. Member ought to have shown that, whereas the evidence given before Lord Roberts was of one character, the evidence given by officers afterwards was of a totally different character.
  MR. BURDETT-COUTTS: I am sorry that the late hour at which I spoke obliged me to leave out some very important parts of my speech. I had intended to close with the sentence that if you had any doubt upon this point, it was only necessary to examine the' evidence which followed Lord Roberts's evidence, and it would be found that not a single officer in the Army afterwards gave an opinion opposite to that expressed by Lord Roberts.
  MR. BRODRICK: I confess that I can produce one or two pieces of evidence which will hardly bear out that statement. I do not wish to widen the gulf between myself and those hon. Members who look upon this Report as being unsatisfactory, and I hope we shall all took at it as the commencement of the reform of the Army Medical Service. The hon. Member for Kirkcaldy asked why the Army Medical Corps were not fully equipped at the time we entered on the war. I can only remind the House that the blame for this shortage lies as much at the door of this House as at any other point. We have had the Army Medical Corps organised on the principle that three army corps only were necessary, and if that principle had been adhered to I believe that the arrangements organised in regard to the Army Medical Corps would have been sufficient. But instead of three army corps, provision had to be immediately made for six army corps. I well recollect how some remarks I made a fortnight ago, in regard to the necessity of preparing to send out 120,000 men abroad, were received. If this House only allows us to organise the Army Medical Corps to supply 120,000 men, how can you expect the same medical staff to supply the medical requirements of 220,000 men? I may tell the hon. Member that I think the experience of the war will show that a Committee such as that suggested by the Commission would be an extremely valuable one.
  Looking at this matter impartially, I think it is regrettable to pass this unmerited slur on men who have, at any rate, tried to do their duty properly according to their lights. I do not think it ought to be supposed for a, moment that a Commission appointed to inquire into the care of the sick and wounded during the campaign could cover the whole ground, nor would its Report be the only guide for the future In regard to the reform of the Army Medical Corps. For the re-organisation of the Department I will not look to the Report alone. I am perfectly aware that in the past the condition of the Army Medical Corps has not been satisfactory in several respects. First of all, we have had far too small a choice of men to bring into the corps,
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  and until we remedy that defect we shall not have an efficient Service. We have not had sufficient elasticity in connection with the Service. I approach this question with an absolutely open mind. I do not feel that we can build altogether on the existing foundation. We shall not limit ourselves to official sources for inspiration. I am not in the least without hope, that before very long the steps about to be taken will enable us to bring before the House a scheme which will give us a really effective Army Medical Service.
  MR. O'SHEEsaid the right hon. Gentleman had stated that it was an independent and impartial Commission, but was that really so? He had complained of the hon. Member for Westminster attributing sinister motives to the Commission, which was composed of independent gentlemen. It should be remembered what was the position of the Government at the time the Commission was appointed. At that time it was most important for the Government that the Commission they were appointing should bring in a Report in favour of the action of the Government with reference to the provision made for the Army Medical Service in South Africa. It would have been a serious thing for the Government if, as the result of their inquiries, the Commission had found that the Government had failed in their duty to the soldiers in South Africa. The Commission had at its head Lord Justice Romer, who was the legal grade, if he might say so, of the Commission. It had been conclusively proved that in his method of conducting the inquiry he had departed altogether from legal traditions, customs, and forms. What happened? Before the Commission left England the evidence of certain witnesses was tendered, and it was refused by the Commission. The hon. Member thought he was correct in stating that Lord Justice Romer promised that the evidence of those witnesses would be received on the return of the Commission from South Africa. On their return Lord Justice Romer and the other members of the Commission absolutely declined to receive the evidence that was tendered. In an ordinary case

  543
  in any of the courts of this country such a proceeding in the way of refusing to receive evidence would be rightly regarded as a disgrace to the judicial bench. The case for the accusers of the Government in connection with the provision made for the Army Medical Corps in South Africa was not heard by the Commission, and all the evidence taken was evidence for the defence. On reading the Report they found that it was not the judgment in any sense of an impartial or an independent tirbunal. It was a special plea from beginning to end for the defence and against the accusers. It was a most amusing thing to go through the Report. All through the Report such expressions were to be found as "on the whole," "generally speaking," and "as a rule." The Principal Medical Officer and head medical staff were strongly animadverted upon, and then the Report said—
  "But taking their work as a whole, and considering the difficulties they have had to contend with, we think that the Principal Medical Officer and his head staff have done excellent work."
  There were pages devoted to criticising the Principal Medical Officer and his staff and showing how they had failed to do their duty in very important details. The Commission accused the orderlies of general thievery, but their Report also said—
  "Complaints against orderlies in this war have been somewhat numerous, though, on the other hand, the way in which the orderlies as a body discharged their duties has deservedly been the subject of high praise from many witnesses of experience."
  With respect to the condition of the Field Hospital of the 12th Brigade at Bloemfontein the Report says—
  "This hospital was in many respects unsatisfactory, but the results on the patients were not so bad as might have been anticipated."
  The whole Report showed a lack of organisation and want of attention to detail. Even the headings of the various portions of the Report confirmed this—as, for instance, "Delay in bringing up hospitals," "Delay in bringing up medical staff," "Delay in moving patients from
  544
  railway stations," and so on. The Report from beginning to end was a special plea on behalf of the defendants in the dock for their treatment of the soldiers of the Queen in South Africa. It appeared to him, in reading the Report, that Lord Justice Romer probably had most to do with the drafting of it, but that on the one hand he had the angel of truth compelling him to put in these reservations and exceptions, while on the other hand stood the angel of whitewash, because the Report proved that the Commission was a whitewashing Commission and nothing else. His Lordship therefore had a very difficult part to play in framing the Report, and under all the circumstances; he did his task extremely well.
  As an Irish Member he had no sympathy with Irishmen who joined the King's Army, and he had done his best to persuade them not to do so. But when unfortunate Irishmen, through poverty, had been driven to enter the Army he was entitled to intervene in the debate in order to criticise the action of the Government and the Royal Army Medical Corps in not properly providing for the comfort of the men who were fighting the battles of the country. He moved to reduce the Vote by £1,000.
  Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Item. Class 7, Vote 1, be reduced by £1,000."—(Mr. O'Shee.)
  MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick's)drew the attention of the Committee to the case of a Unionist friend of his who, joining the Army, was sent to South Africa. While there he fell sick and was put into one of the bell-tents. For five days he was lying on the ground without a blanket and without any sanitary accommodation whatever. He was half-starved, and it was only his strong Irish constitution which kept him alive. The doctor never went near him, he had no medicine or treatment of any kind, and apparently nobody cared whether the wounded and sick lived or died. In contrast to that, another friend of his, who went out with the Irish Yeomanry, was taken prisoner by the Boers, and the man said that the Boers treated him as a prisoner a great deal better than our

  545
  own men were treated in our own hospitals. He full}' agreed that the Report was a whitewashing Report. The gentlemen who went outwore no doubt impelled by the highest motive, but that highest motive was to get the Government out of a difficulty. There was not the slightest doubt that this eminent judge was put at the head of the Commission in order that no damaging admissions should appear, and the result was that the Government had got a Report according to order, and the Committee were expected to swallow everything contained therein. The War Office and the officials responsible ought undoubtedly to be brought to justice at the bar of public opinion. This was nothing else but a public scandal in regard to the way the wounded were treated, and he promised his friend that ho would make the case public. He was prepared to give the gentleman's name, only he told him that he did not want to pose as a martyr. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman would take these facts into consideration.
  *MR. TULLYthought very grave and serious charges had been made by the hon. Member for Westminster, and he had proved his case up to the hilt, and they were entitled to have a clear and sufficient answer to that ease from the Government. He thought this Hospitals Commission was simply an electioneering Commission sent out for the purposes of the General Election. The right hon. Gentleman had stated that the members of this Commission were impartial and disinterested, but he did not say that two of them had got titles which they never would otherwise have got. When the Government appointed Commissions to inquire into the riots at Belfast and the Broadhead outrages at Sheffield they were given power to protect witnesses who gave evidence; but in the case of this Commission, which dealt with the lives of thousands of soldiers, that power was refused. That being the case, how could they expect any other result than the very limited Report which was presented to the House? The hon. Member for Westminster had told them plainly how the wounded
  546
  were treated. He knew a private in the Irish Yeomanry who fought at Lindley, and he received a slight injury which ought to have healed in a week or two with proper treatment, but in consequence of being dealt with by an incompetent doctor at the front that soldier was now limping about Dublin with one leg. That would not have happened if they had not tried to run the Army on society lines, with society generals and society doctors. There were numbers of men in Ireland who had lost their limbs through merely trivial wounds, and this could have been prevented if their injuries had been attended to at the time by competent doctors. The Report presented was simply a whitewashing Report, and the £8,000 spent on this Commission was simply for official whitewash. He hoped his hon. friend would press his motion to a division.
  DR. THOMPSONsaid he could not sit silently and hear the Army Medical Department abused. It was not the officers, but the system under which they worked that was to blame. He know a large number of medical officers engaged in this war, and they told him in communications that they knew where to get the supplies, but the system was such that, although, they went and begged for these things for the sick and wounded, they could not get them. After the letters of the hon. Member for Westminster appeared in The Times then all these difficulties were removed. There could not be the smallest doubt that not only this House, but the country and every British soldier, owed to the hon. Member for Westminster a debt of gratitude for what he had done. He did not hesitate to say that the action of the hon. Member for Westminster had been instrumental in saving the lives of thousands of men in South Africa. He did not blame the Government so much, because they had sent out large quantities of every sort of supplies; but the system of distribution was such that it destroyed the vitality of the service. He knew a case where a soldier had his hand blown off, and when the medical officer came to amputate the limb there was no antiseptic for him to use. They were not allowed to keep such things in small estab-

  547
  lishments, and they could not be supplied within ten days. He knew another ease where there was an outbreak of diphtheria, and the medical officer had to buy diphtheric anti-toxine because the Government had not provided any. Those were absolute facts, and he felt sure that the right hon. Gentleman, the Secretary of State for War, who had shown such a great interest in reforms in the Army, and had proposed such an elaborate scheme, would do all that was possible to remedy the state of things which existed in the Army Medical Service at present. As regarded the Army Medical men themselves, amid great dangers, wherever their services were required they were always there. They never spared themselves in the Crimea, and they had not spared themselves in South Africa.
  MR. CREANcontended that the system under which the Army Medical Corps worked was bad and defective, and it was not right to try and throw the blame for what had occurred during this campaign on the doctors. These men did not wish to pose as martyrs. In fact, some of them, were rather doubtful of the results that would accrue to themselves for the sacrifices they had made for the honour of Great Britain. It was clear that the evidence of the men who had suffered most had not been accepted. This was proof positive that the Commission was appointed not to find facts or to bring home any defects in the system, but to make it appear to the public that the statements made by the hon. Gentleman, who was not an opponent but a supporter of the Government, were exaggerated. The Commission was a fraudulent Commission from the beginning, and was sent out to South Africa to cover up the defects of the system, and to bring a plausible Report before the country, to exonerate the
  Gentlemen on the Front Bench who were responsible for the muddle in South Africa. It was not a Commission that did any practical good, and it was never intended to do anything else than purely and solely to whitewash the Government. The Report was not worth £8,000; in fact, it was not worth the cost of the paper on which it was printed. His contention was not that the doctors had neglected their duty in the field, or that they were inefficient as individuals, but that the system as a whole was inefficient, and that the staff were not numerous enough to cope with the difficulties with which they were surrounded. The war was entered into without sufficient food, supplies, clothing, or medicines. The Commission did no earthly good. If any good was done it was by the hon. Member for Westminster; who, however, had been closured when he wanted to bring forward evidence to prove every charge that had been made. It was a clover move on the part of the Commission to ask the head of the Army to give his evidence first. That was done intentionally to prevent any underling, or non-commissioned officer, or private giving true evidence. He himself had seen men driven mad by their sufferings and neglect. He had taken a man to the police quarters who had been driven out of barracks by his colleagues.
  MR. A. J. BALFOURrose in his place, and claimed to move, "That the Question be now put."
  Question put, "That the Question be now put."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 154; Noes, 72. (Division List No. 77.)

  AYES

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir Alex. F.

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Arkwright, John Stanhope

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Bagot, Capt. Joceline FitzRoy

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashfd

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Balcarres, Lord

  Harris, Fleverton (Tynemouth

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Balfour, Rt. Hn. A. J. (Manch'r)

  Heath, Arthur Howard (Hanley

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Bathurst, Hon. Allen Benjamin

  Heath, James (Staffords, N. W.)

  Purvis, Robert

  Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

  Hope, J. F.(Sheff'ld,Brightside

  Randles, John S.

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Howard, Capt J (Kent, Faversh.

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Bignold, Arthur

  Jessel, Capt. Herbert Merton

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Bill, Charles

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Renwick, George

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Kenyon, Hon. Geo. T. (Denbigh

  Ridley, Hn. M. W. (Stalybridge

  Bond, Edward

  Ridley, S. Forde (Bethnal Green

  Boscawen, Arthur Griffith-

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop)

  Ritchie, Rt. Hn. Chas. Thomson

  Brassey, Albert

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Lawrence, William F.

  Royds, Clement Molyneux

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Lawson, John Grant

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Cavendish, V. C. W. (Derbysh.

  Leigh- Bennett, Henry Carrie

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Leveson-Gower, Frederick N. S

  Sassoon, Sir Edward Albeit

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Seely, Charles Hilton (Lincoln)

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. J.(Birm.

  Long, Rt. Hn. Walter (Bristol, S

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Chamberlain, J. A. (Worc'r

  Lowther, C. (Cumb. Eskdale)

  Shaw-Stewart, M. H. (Renfrew)

  Chapman, Edward

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Cochrane, Hon. Thos. H.A.E.

  Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft)

  Skewes-Cox, Thomas

  Corbett, A. Cameron(Glasgow)

  Lucas, Reginald J.(Portsmouth

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, East)

  Smith, HC (North'mb Tyneside

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Macartney, Rt.Hn. W G Ellison

  Smith, James Parker (Lanarks.

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Spear, John Ward

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  M'Killop, James (Stirlingshire)

  Stauley, Hn. Arthur (Ormskirk

  Davies, Sir H. D. (Chatham)

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs.)

  Dewar, T. R (T'rH'mlets, S.Geo.

  Malcolm, Tan

  Stock, James Henry

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Manners, Lord Cecil

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Dickson-Poynder, Sir J. P.

  Maxwell, WJ H (Dumfriesshire

  Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napie

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph C.

  Melville. Beresford Valentine

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Dyke, Rt. Hn. Sir William Hart

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Valentia, Viscount

  Egerton, Hon. A. de Tatton

  More, Robt. Jasper (Shropshire

  Walker, Col. William Hall.

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Morgan, Day, J. (Walthamstow

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  Finch, George H.

  Morgan, Hn. Fred(Monm'thsh.

  Wason, John Cathcart (Orkney

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Welby, Lt.-Col. ACE(Taunton)

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Whiteley, H. (Ashton under L.

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Williams, Colonel R. (Dorset)

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fredk.

  Morton, Arthur HA(Deptford)

  Willox, Sir John Archibald

  Cordon, Hn. J. E. (Elgin&Nairn

  Mount, William Arthur

  Wilson, A. Stanley (York, E.R.)

  Goschen, Hn. George Joachim

  Murray, Rt Hn A Graham (Bute

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Greene, Sir EW (BryS. Edm'nds

  Murray, Charles J. (Coventry

  Greene, W. Raymond(Cambs.)

  Wortley, Rt. Hn. C. B. Stuart-

  Grenfell, William Henry

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Groves, James Grimble

  Nicholson, William Graham

  Guthrie, Walter Murray

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Hambro, Charles Erie

  O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

  Hamilton, Rt Hn Lord G. (Mid'x

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Hanbury, Rt. Hon. Robert Wm.

  Penn, John

  NOES.

  Abraham, William (Cork, N.E.)

  Dalziel, James Henry

  Joicey, Sir James

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Doogan, P. C.

  Jones, William (Carnarvonsh.)

  Allen, Chas. P. (Glouc, Stroud)

  Dully, William J.

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Elibank, Master of

  Joyce, Michael

  Boland, John

  Farrell, James Patrick

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Boyle, James

  Fenwick, Charles

  Leamy, Edmund

  Brown, George M. (Edinburgh)

  Field, William

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.)

  Levy, Maurice

  Burns, John

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  Lundon, W.

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Gilhooly, James

  M'Crae, George

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Gladstone, Rt. Hn Herbert John

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Hammond, John

  M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North)

  Crean, Eugene

  Hardie, J Keir (Merthyr Tydvil

  Mooney, John J.

  Cullinan, J.

  Hayden, John Patrick

  Murphy, J.

  Daly, James

  Hayne, Rt. Hon. Charles Seale-

  Nolan, Col. J. P. (Galway, N

  550

  551

  O'Brien, K. (Tipperary, Mid)

  Reddy, M.

  Thomas, J. A. (Glam.,Gower)

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Redmond, J. E. (Waterford)

  Thompson, E. C. (Monaghan, N.

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Tully, Jasper

  O'Donnell, T. (Kerry, W.)

  Roche, John

  Warner, Thomas CourtenayT.

  O'Dowd, John

  Samuel, S. M. (Whitechapel)

  Weir, James Galloway

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Soares, Ernest J.

  White, Luke (York, E. R.)

  O'Kelly, Jas (Roscommon, N.)

  Sullivan, Donal

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  O'Malley, William

  Tennant, Harold John

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Captain Donelan and Mr. Patrick O'Brien.

  O'Mara, James

  Thomas, A. (Glamorgan, E.)

  O'Shee, James John

  Thomas, F. Freeman-(Hastings

  Question put accordingly, "That the Item, Class 7, Vote 1, be reduced by £1,000."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 72; Noes, 153. (Division List No. 78.)

  AYES.

  Abraham, Wm. (Cork, N. E.)

  Gladstone Rt. Hn. Herbert J.

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Hammond, John

  O'Kelly, James (Roscommon, N

  Allen, C. P. (Glonc, Stroud)

  Hardie, J. Keir(MerthyrTydvil

  O'Malley, William

  Barry, E. (Cork. S.)

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Mara, James

  Boland, John

  Hayne, Rt. Hon. Charles Seale-

  O'Shee, James John

  Boyle, James

  Joicey, Sir James

  Roddy, M.

  Brown, George M.(Edinburgh)

  Jones, William (Carnarvonsh'e

  Redmond, JohnE. (Waterford

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Burns, John

  Joyce, Michael

  Roche, John

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Samuel S M (Whitechapel)

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Leamy, Edmund

  Soares, Ernest J.

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Sullivan, Donal

  Crean, Eugene

  Levy, Maurice

  Tennant, Harold John

  Cullinan, J.

  Lundon, W.

  Thomas Alfred (Glamorgan, E

  Daly, James

  M'Crae, George

  Thomas, F. Freeman (Hastings

  Dalziel, James Henry

  M'Dermott, Patrick

  Thomas, J. A. (Glam., Gower)

  Doogan, P. C.

  M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North)

  Thompson, E.C. (Monaghan, N

  Duffy, William J.

  Mooney, John J.

  Tally, Jasper

  Elibank, Master of

  Murphy, J.

  Warner, Thos. Courtenay T.

  Farrell, James Patrick

  Nolan, Col. J. P. (Galway, N.)

  Weir, James Galloway

  Fenwick, Charles

  O'Brien, K. (Tipperary, Mid)

  White, Luke (York, E.R.)

  Field, William

  O'Connor, T. P. (Liverpool)

  Wilson, Jhn. (Durham, Mid.)

  Foster, Sir Walter (Derby Co.)

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Captain Donelan and Mr. Patrick O'Brien.

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  O'Donnell, T. (Kerry, W.)

  Gilhooly, James

  O'Dowd, John

  NOES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir A. E.

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Goschen, Hon. George Joachim

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Greene, Sir E W (B'rySEdm'nds

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hn. J. (Birm.)

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs)

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Chamberlain, J. Austen (Wore.

  Grenfell, William Henry

  Arkwright, John Stanhope

  Chapman, Edward

  Groves, James Grimble

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Cochrane, Hon. Thos. H.A.E.

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Corbett, A. C. (Glasgow)

  Hamilton, Rt. Hn Lord G (Mid'x

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Hanbury, Rt. Hon. Rbt. Wm.

  Bagot, Capt. Josceline FitzRoy

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Hardy, Laurence (Kent, Ashfrd

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Harris, Fleverton (Tynemouth

  Balcarres, Lord

  Davies, Sir H. D. (Chatham)

  Heath, Arthur Howard(Hanley

  Balfour, Rt. Hon. A. J. (Manch'r

  Dewar, T. R. (T'rH'mlts,S.Geo.

  Heath, J. (Staffords, N. W.)

  Bathurst, Hon, Allen Benjamin

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Hope, J. E (Sheffield, Brightside

  Beach, Rt. Hn. Sir M. H. (Bristol

  Dickson-Poynder, Sir John P.

  Howard, Capt. J (Kent,Faversh

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cockfield

  Jessel, Captain Herbert Merton

  Bignold, Arthur

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Bill, Charles

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  Kenyon, Hon. Geo. T. (Denbigh

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Dyke, Rt. Hon. Sir Wm. H.

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W (Salop.

  Bond, Edward

  Egerton, Hon. A. de Tatton

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Boscawen, Arthur Griffith-

  Lawrence, William F.

  Brassey, Albert

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Lawson, John Grant

  Brodrick, Rt, Hon. St. John

  Finch, George H.

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Leveson-Gower, Frederick N.S.

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fredk.

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Cavendish, V. C. W. (Derbysh.)

  Gordon, Hn. J. E. (Elgin&Nairn

  Long, Rt Hn Walter (Bristol,S.)

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale

  Nicholson, William Graham

  Smith, HC. (North'mb. Tynes'e

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Nichol, Donald Ninian

  Smith, James Parker (Lanarks.

  Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft)

  O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

  Spear, John Ward

  Lucas, Reginald J. (Portsmouth

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Stanley, Hn. Arthur(Ormskirk

  Macartney, Rt Hn W. G. Ellison

  Penn. John

  Stanley, Lord (Lanes.)

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Stock, James Henry

  M'Killop, Jas. (Stirlingshire)

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hedley

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Pryce-Jones, Lt-Col. Edward

  Sturt, Hon. Humphry Napier

  Malcolm, Ian

  Purvis, Robert

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Manners, Lord Cecil

  Randles, John S.

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Maxwell, WJH (Dumfriesshir)

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Melville, Beresford Valentine

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Valentia, Viscount

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Renwick, George

  Walker, Col. William Hall

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Ridley, Hn. M. W. (Stalybridge

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Ridley, S. Forde (Bethnal Green

  Wason, John C. (Orkney)

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Ritchie, Rt. Hn. Chas. Thomson

  Welby, Lt-Col A.C.E (Taunton

  More, R. Jasper (Shropshire)

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Whiteley, H Ashton und. Lyne

  Morgan, D. J. (Walthamstow)

  Royds, Clement Molyneux

  Williams, Colonel R. (Dorset)

  Morgan, Hn. F. (Monm'thsh.)

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Willox, Sir John Archibald

  Morrell, George Herbert

  Sadler, Col Samuel Alexander

  Wilson, A. Stanley (York, E.R.

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Sassoon, Sir Edward Albert

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Seely, Chas. Hilton (Lincoln)

  Wortley, Rt. Hon. C.B. Stuart-

  Morton, Arthur H. A. (Deptford

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Mount, William Arthur

  Shaw-Stewart, M. H. (Renfrew

  Murray, Rt Hn A. Graham(Bute

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Murray, Charles J. (Coventry)

  Skewes-Cox, Thomas

  Newdigate, Francis Alexander-

  Smith, Abel H.(Hertford, East

  MR. A. J. BALFOURclaimed, "That the Original Question be now put."
  *THE CHAIRMANaccepted the motion, and proceeded to put the question.
  MR. FIELD(remaining seated and speaking with his hat on) asked if this would preclude them from discussing two very important Votes relating to salmon fisheries and the Port of London.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: The Leader of the House having claimed that the main question be now put, and I having accepted that motion. I am afraid the hon. Member will be precluded from further discussion.
  ME. JOHN REDMOND: May I ask, Mr. Lowther, on a point of order, what is the main question? Is the question you are putting the total sum of £893,000?
  *THE CHAIRMAN: Yes.
  MR. JOHN REDMOND: Oh ! Nobody heard the question put.
  MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)asked if it would be in order to exempt the Vote dealing with the funeral of Her late Majesty, because this would be the only opportunity afforded to the House of discussing that Vote.
  *THE CHAIRMAN: There is no means of exempting that item.
  Original Question put accordingly, "That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £893,316, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1901, for Civil Services and Revenue Departments."
  The Committee divided:—Ayes, 159; Noes, 64. (Division List No. 79.)

  AYES.

  Acland-Hood, Capt. Sir A. F.

  Balfour, Rt. Hn. A. J. (Manch'r

  Burdett-Coutts, W.

  Agg-Gardner, James Tynte

  Bathurst, Hon. A. Benjamin

  Cautley, Henry Strother

  Agnew, Sir Andrew Noel

  Beach, Rt. Hn. SirM. H. (Bristol

  Cavendish, R. F. (N. Lancs.)

  Archdale, Edward Mervyn

  Bentinck, Lord Henry C.

  Cavendish, V. C.W (Derbyshire

  Arkwrigbt, John Stanhope

  Bignold, Arthur

  Cecil, Evelyn (Aston Manor)

  Arnold-Forster, Hugh O.

  Bill, Charles

  Cecil, Lord Hugh (Greenwich)

  Ashmead-Bartlett, Sir Ellis

  Blundell, Colonel Henry

  Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. J. (Birm.

  Atkinson, Rt. Hon. John

  Bond, Edward

  Chamberlain, J Austen (Worc'r

  Bagot, Capt. Josceline FitzRoy

  Boscawen, Arthur Griffith-

  Chapman, Edward

  Bain, Colonel James Robert

  Brassey, Albert

  Cochrane, Hon. Thos. H. A. E.

  Balcarres, Lord

  Brodrick, Rt. Hon. St. John

  Corbett, A. Cameron (Glasgow)

  Cranborne, Viscount

  Leigh-Bennett, Henry Currie

  Ridley, Hn. M. W. (Stalybridge

  Cubitt, Hon. Henry

  Leveson-Gower, Fredk. N. S.

  Ridley, S. Forde (Bethnal Green

  Dalkeith, Earl of

  Lockwood, Lt.-Col. A. R.

  Ritchie, Rt. Hn. C. Thomson

  Davies, Sir Horatio D (Chatham

  Long, Rt. Hn. Walter (Bristol, S

  Robertson, Herbert (Hackney)

  Dewar, T. R (T'rH'ml'ts,S. Geo.

  Lowther, C. (Cumb., Eskdale)

  Royds, Clement Molyneux

  Dickson, Charles Scott

  Loyd, Archie Kirkman

  Sackville, Col. S. G. Stopford-

  Dickson-Poynder, Sir John P.

  Lucas, Col. Francis (Lowestoft)

  Sadler, Col. Samuel Alexander

  Dimsdale, Sir Joseph Cockfield

  Lucas, Reginald J. (Portsm'th)

  Seely, Charles Hilton(Lincoln)

  Disraeli, Coningsby Ralph

  Macartney, RtHn W. G. Ellison

  Sharpe, William Edward T.

  Douglas, Rt. Hon. A. Akers-

  Macdona, John Cumming

  Shaw-Stewart, M. H. (Renfrew)

  Durning-Lawrence, Sir Edwin

  M'Killop, James (Stirlingshire

  Sinclair, Louis (Romford)

  Egerton, Hon. A. de Tatton

  Majendie, James A. H.

  Skewes Cox, Thomas

  Fielden, Edward Brocklehurst

  Malcolm, Ian

  Smith, Abel H. (Hertford, East)

  Finch, George H.

  Manners, Lord Cecil

  Smith, HC (North'mb.Tynesi'e

  Finlay, Sir Robert Bannatyne

  Maxwell, W. J. H (Dumfriessh.)

  Smith, James Parker(Lanarks)

  Fisher, William Hayes

  Melville, Beresford Valentine

  Spear, John Ward

  Fuller, J. M. F.

  Milward, Colonel Victor

  Stanley, Hn. Arthur (Ormskirk

  Gladstone, Rt. Hon. H. John

  Molesworth, Sir Lewis

  Stanley, Lord (Lancs

  Godson, Sir Augustus Fredk.

  Montagu, G. (Huntingdon)

  Stock, James Henry

  Gordon, Hn. J. E. (Elgin&Nairn

  Moon, Edward Robert Pacy

  Strutt, Hon. Charles Hadley

  Goschen, Hn. George Joachim

  More, Robt. Jas. (Shropshire)

  Sturt, Hon. Humphrey Napier

  Greene,SirE. W. (BySEdm'nds

  Morgan, D. J. (Walthamstow

  Talbot, Lord E. (Chichester)

  Greene, W. Raymond-(Cambs.)

  Morgan, Hn. Fred. (Monm'thsh

  Thomas, Alfred(Glamorgen, E.

  Grenfell, William Henry

  Morreli, George Herbert

  Thomas, J. A. (Glam.,Gower

  Groves, James Grimble

  Morris, Hon. Martin Henry F.

  Thornton, Percy M.

  Guthrie, Walter Murray

  Morrison, James Archibald

  Tomlinson, Wm. Edw. Murray

  Hambro, Charles Eric

  Morton, Artbur H A. (Deptford)

  Valentia, Viscount

  Hamilton, Rt Hn Lord G.(Mid'x

  Mount, William Arthur

  Walker, Col. William Hall

  Hanbury, Rt. Hon. Rbt. Wm.

  Murray, Rt. Hon. A. G. (Bute

  Warde, Lieut.-Col. C. E.

  Hardy-Laurence, (Kent, Ashfd

  Murray, Charles J. (Coventry

  Wason, John Cathcart (Orkney

  Harris, Fleverton (Tynemouth

  Newdigate, Francis Alex.

  Welby, Lt.-Col. ACE (Taunton

  Heath, Arthur Howard(Hanley

  Nicholson, William Graham

  Whiteley, H. (Ashton-u.-Lyne

  Heath, James (Staffords, N.W.

  Nicol, Donald Ninian

  Williams, Col. B. (Dorset

  Hope, J. F. (Sheffield Brightside

  O'Neill, Hon. Robert Torrens

  Willox, Sir John Archiba.

  Howard, Capt. J. (Kent Faversh

  Pemberton, John S. G.

  Wilson, A. Stanley (York, E.R.

  Jessel, Capt. Herbert Merton

  Penn, John

  Wilson, John (Glasgow)

  Johnston, William (Belfast)

  Platt-Higgins, Frederick

  Wortley, Rt, Hn. C. B.Stuart-

  Jones, Wm. (Carnarvonshire)

  Pretyman, Ernest George

  Wyndham, Rt. Hon. George

  Kenyon, Hn. G. T. (Denbigh)

  Pryce-Jones, Lt.-Col. Edward

  Kenyon-Slaney, Col. W. (Salop

  Purvis, Robert

  TELLERS FOR THE AYES—Sir William Walrond and Mr. Anstruther.

  Law, Andrew Bonar

  Handles, John S.

  Lawrence, William F.

  Reid, James (Greenock)

  Lawson, John Grant

  Rentoul, James Alexander

  Legge, Col. Hon. Heneage

  Renwick, George

  NOES.

  Abraham, Wm. (Cork, N. E.

  Hammond, John

  O'Kelly, James (Roscommon N

  Abraham, William (Rhondda)

  Hardie, J Keir (Merthyr Tydvil)

  O'Malley, William

  Allen, Chas. P. (Glouc.,Stroud

  Hayden, John Patrick

  O'Mara, James

  Barry, E. (Cork, S.)

  Hayne, Rt. Hon. Charles Seale-

  O'Shee, James John

  Boyland, John

  Jordan, Jeremiah

  Reddy, M.

  Boyle, James

  Joyce, Michael

  Redmond, John E. (Waterford)

  Brown, Geo. M. (Edinburgh)

  Kennedy, Patrick James

  Redmond, William (Clare)

  Burke, E. Haviland-

  Leamy, Edmund

  Roche, John

  Burns, John

  Leigh, Sir Joseph

  Samuel, S. M. (Whitechapel)

  Campbell, John (Armagh, S.)

  Levy, Maurice

  Soares, Ernest J.

  Clancy, John Joseph

  Lundon, W.

  Sullivan, Donal

  Condon, Thomas Joseph

  M'Crae, George

  Tennant, Harold John

  Crean, Eugene

  M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North)

  Thomas, F Freeman-(Hastings

  Cullinan, J.

  Mooney, John J.

  Thompson, EC. (Monaghan, N.

  Daly, James

  Morton, E. J. C. (Devonport)

  Tully, Jasper

  Dalziel, James Henry

  Murphy, J.

  Weir, James Galloway

  Doogan, P. C.

  Nolan, Col. John P. (Galway, N.

  White, Luke (York, E.IR.)

  Duffy, William J.

  O'Brien, Kendal(Tipper'ryMid

  Wilson, John (Durham, Mid.)

  Elibank, Master of

  O'Connor, T. P. Liverpool)

  Farrell, James Patrick

  O'Donnell, John (Mayo, S.)

  TELLERS FOR THE NOES—Captain Donelan and Mr. Patrick O'Brien.

  Fenwick, Charles

  O'Donnell, T. (Kerry, W.)

  Field, William

  O'Dowd, John

  Gilhooly, James

  O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo, N.)

  Resolutions to be reported To-morrow; Committee to sit again To-morrow.
  Adjourned at Three of the clock a.m.