HC Deb 23 June 1904 vol 136 cc985-6
MR. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether the resignation of Sir Charles Eliot of his position under the Crown in East Africa was on account of ill-health or difference of opinion with the Government on its policy in East Africa.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRD (Earl PERCY, Kensington, S.)

As I stated in the course of the debate on Monday, Sir Charles Eliot's resignation is due to a difference of opinion between him and the Government, arising out of their refusal to grant leases of land within a certain area in the province of Naivasha pending a final decision on the question of a native reserve.

MR. BAYLEY

Might I ask the noble Lord whether he will, before the grant is given, let the House have an opportunity of seeing what the grant is.

EARL PERCY

What grant?

MR. BAYLEY

The grant of territory which is to be given to certain concessionaires out there.

EARL PERCY

I think that the lion. Gentleman is referring to the lease of land that is to be granted to the Jewish Syndicate which is in a different part of the country.

* SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)

I think, Sir, the noble Lord referred to a difference of opinion with the Government arising out of a refusal to grant leases of land. I think that my hon. friend desires to know what those grants are before they are granted.

EARL PERCY

They are grants of leases to private persons.