SIR GILBERT PARKERasked what were the objections urged by the Portuguese Government against granting facilities for recruiting native labour in Portuguese East Africa to the Robinson group of mines, and would the correspondence between the mine group and Lord Selborne be laid.
§ MR. CHURCHILLsaid the time for a statement with regard to recruitment of natives in Portuguese East Africa would not have arrived until the negotiations with the Portuguese Government were concluded. No statement could be usefully made till then.
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. I said that no part of the correspondence will at present be laid.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEIs the correspondence referred to in the hands of the Government?
§ MR. CHURCHILLreplied in the affirmative.
§ MR. LYTTELTONIs the situation at present that one capitalist in South Africa is empowered to recruit in Portuguese territory when no other individual is so empowered?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Secretary of State has made a recent statement in the other House on the question, to which I would draw the right hon. Gentleman's attention.