§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further official information in regard to the rioting at St. Lucia; what is the total number of killed and wounded; and what steps are being taken to cope with the trouble.
§ THE UNDER - SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. CHURCHILL, Manchester, N.W.)The following telegram was received from the Governor on the afternoon of the 30th of April, "30th April, Conditions improved, one factory working, two partly working, one idle, but feeling still acute, no firing since last report, but correct casualty returns rifle fire number of killed is four,
† See (4) Debates, clxxi., 210.1056 wounded twenty-nine, of whom two since dead, other casualties with (?) sticks and stones. No doubt that armed police by firing saved the factories and lives, checked organised massing of three large bodies of rioters and prevented far greater calamity." And on the afternoon of yesterday, the following, "1st May: factories still guarded, conditions unchanged, temper people unsatisfactory: Marines should be landed in place of Barbados police on arrival of 'Indefatigable.' "My Answer to the hon. Members for West Lanarkshire and Mid-Armagh on Monday last‡ has shown what measures have hitherto been taken to prevent further disturbances. Detachments of police were summoned from Barbados and St. Vincent, and H.M.S. "Indefatigable" was ordered to proceed to St. Lucia, and arrived last night. The Governor has stated that no further assistance is required.
SIR GILBERT PARKERasked whether in view of recent events, the Government would take into consideration the question of greater naval protection for the West Indies.
§ MR. CHURCHILLYes, Sir; it is being taken into consideration, and I understand some alteration is about to be made.