§ R. BYLES Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Under-secretary of State for the 1044 Colonies whether the Zulu rebellion is now at an end, and whether the Militia and irregular troops will be immediately recalled; what will be done with the 3,000 prisoners; and what steps will be taken to remove the conditions which produced disaffection among the hitherto loyal native population of the Colony.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Manchester, N.W.The Governor does not anticipate further operations, and states that all districts are reported quiet. The Natal Government has given orders for the demobilisation of the active Militia, retaining about 600 men for further services, if required. The Secretary of State is not officially informed as to what will be done with the prisoners. The Natal Government proposes to appoint a Commission to investigate the question of native administration.
§ MR. BYLESI beg to ask the Under - Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a speech made at a public banquet in Pretoria, by Brigadier-General Jeffreys, in which he defended the military policy of giving no quarter and accepting no surrender in the recent operations against the Zulus; will he say whether General Jeffreys holds his commission from His Majesty; and whether the Colonial Secretary will take any notice of the speech.
§ MR. CHURCHILLFrom a newspaper report which I have seen it appears to be stated that Brigadier-General Jeffreys, who is an officer upon the staff in South Africa, said in the course of a speech largely devoted to historical references to bygone methods of warfare, that in the course of a "drive" through impenetrable bush it was impossible to accept surrenders. I do not know whether the report is correct; but even if it were, it does not seem to me to afford any grounds for the supposition that a British officer would defend the killing of unresisting men. I hope my hon. friend will endeavour to extend to the speeches of soldiers the benefits of that most favourable construction to which speeches in this House are in constitutional practice entitled, and of which they may sometimes stand in need. The Secretary 1045 of State does not consider that the matter calls for his interference.
§ MR. BYLESI am not quite sure whether I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that a "drive through impenetrable bush" was an historic reference; if that is so, I am only too glad to accept the Answer, but I take it to mean—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order ! The hon. Member is not now asking a Question.