§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received the Report, for which he asked, as to the most convenient measures to be taken to abolish the legal status of slavery in the Zanzibar coast strip, and also to abolish slavery altogether in the islands; and whether
† See(4) Debates, clxxiv., 210,211.665 he will state what the proposed measures are, and if they have been put into operation.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The Report in question will not be received until about the end of June.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEWill action then follow?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI hope action will then follow; but I must remind my right hon. friend that action in this case involves expense, so that we must not only consider the views of the Colonial Office, but also our power of convincing the Treasury. But already we are eagerly engaged in bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
§ MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)Is expense to be allowed to stand in the way of the abolition of slavery?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI was not suggesting that. I was only pointing out that a consultation was necessary between the two Departments.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEI will repeat the Question next month.
§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)Was not an absolute undertaking given in this matter?
§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)Did this status of slavery exist during the late administration?
§ [No Answer was returned.]