§ MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALDI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the attention of His Majesty's Government has been called to the repeated charges of disloyalty against Dinuzulu, and whether, in view of Dinuzulu's position in Natal, His Majesty's Government or the Natal Government have taken any steps to protect him against the effect of the publication of such statement, or to prosecute the originators or publishers of these charges.
§ MR. CHURCHILLReports and rumours have been prevalent charging Dinuzulu with disloyalty, but it has been made clear in the papers presented to Parliament that Mr. Saunders, the Commissioner for native affairs in Zululand, has not considered that those suspicions were justified. It is a matter for the Natal Government to decide what steps, if any, should be taken with regard to the publication of statements at once so injurious and unwise.
§ MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALDCan the hon. Gentleman tell me whether Dinuzulu has recently boon summoned to appear at Pietermaritzburg, and, if so, on what ground the summons has been issued.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI believe the Governor, on the advice of Ministers, has requested Dinuzulu to go to Pietermaritzburg. Dinuzulu is unable to do so owing to the state of his health. I believe he is troubled with a very acute and painful disease, and that possibly he could only undertake such a journey at the peril of his life. He is sending several of his principal indunas, who will be fully empowered to speak frankly for him on all matters to the Governor; and I have reason to believe that the Governor and Ministers in Natal consider Dinuzulu's answer in that respect to be satisfactory.
§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)Was it not a similar summons which drove Bambaata into rebellion?
§ MR. CHURCHILLIn this case there appears to be no further difficulty.
§ MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked whether the summons cast any reflection on Dinuzulu's loyalty, or whether he had been asked to go to Pietermaritzburg simply to give information to the Governor and other persons.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI should not consider that such a summons reflected in any way on Dinuzulu's loyalty. He has been invited to confer with the Government on native affairs at a time when those affairs are exercising all minds.