HC Deb 28 February 1906 vol 152 cc1124-5
MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire, Eifion)

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to a speech delivered by Colonel Davies, of the Imperial Light Horse, at Johannesburg, on the 27th of January last, in the presence of Lord Selborne, in which he referred to the First Lord of the Treasury and his supporters as "that just and honourable right honourable Gentleman, they could put the name themselves, but it began with C. B., and his satellites, and attributed to them cowardice, scurrility, and falsehood"; whether the High Commissioner made any and what protest against such an attack upon the Prime Minister of this country; and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government will take any action in the matter.

MR. CHURCHILL

The Secretary of State has noticed the report of the speech to which the hon. Member refers. It is very natural that persons of excitable character who apprehend that their monetary interests may be prejudicially affected by the policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to Chinese labour should express themselves strongly, particularly after dinner. The Secretary of State does not propose to attach undue importance to such criticism, though it is to be regretted that Lord Selborne should have been subjected to the annoyance of hearing it offered in his presence.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

Did the High Commissioner make any protest and, if so, what?

MR. CHURCHILL

I am not able to say whether the protests of the High Commissioner took the form of verbal interruption of the proceedings or not.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

Was any protest made at all, and has the hon. Gentleman any authority for suggesting that the speech did not meet with the approval of the High Commissioner? Has he had any communication with the High Commissioner?

MR. CHURCHILL

I, of course, assume that the High Commissioner would regard with disapproval any reflections on the First Lord of the Treasury.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

But has the hon. Gentleman made any communication with the High Commissioner? We regard this as an insult to our Leader.

MR. CHURCHILL

I think it would be proper to attribute to the High Commissioner the best motives in such a matter.

MR. BRYN ROBERTS

I shall draw attention to this matter on the Estimates.