§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what are the conditions of the cessation of the operations against the Zakka Khel.
§ MR. MORLEYI told the House last week that I hoped I should be able to make a satisfactory announcement to the House within a few days, and I am glad to find that it is so. Yesterday I received a telegram from Sir James Willcocks, dated 28th February, delayed because of the storms, in which he says, "Campeast of China, Bazar Valley, 28th February. Jirga of all Afridis, including Zakka Khel, spent night discussing details of settlement. I received them this afternoon, and they laid before me the following petition: 'We, maliks and elders of the whole Afridi tribe in Jirga assembled, humbly represent to the British Government that being anxious to end quarrel between Zakka Khel Afridis and British Government, which has been caused by misconduct of former, we have agreed and do promise that we Afridis will hold ourselves responsible jointly and severally for the future good behaviour of every section of the Zakka Khel tribe. Also, we promise that when we are called upon we will assist each other in punishing these bad characters, 334 and British Government may punish us by fine, by exclusion from British territory or in any other way, for the misdeeds of Zakka Khel sections for whom we stand security. As regards the past, we beg that British Government in its strength will take into consideration losses suffered by Zakka Khel by exclusion from British territory and by war, and will not complete ruin of tribe for sins of badly behaved minority. As regards actual thieves who have been leaders of raids in British territory, we beg that we with assistance of Zakka Khel elders may undertake their punishment wherever they may be, and we will punish them to the satisfaction of British Government, in earnest for which we here deposit fifty-three rifles, which are worth according to prices current in our country more than Rs. 20,000, as security. And these rifles will only be returned to us when Political Agent, Khyber, is satisfied that thieves have been sufficiently punished. And we Zakka Khel agree to this petition and promise to assist Afridi Jirga in every way. Further we hope for the mercy and favour of British Government.' Then follow seals and signatures of 322 maliks and elders representing every tribe of the Afridis. I trust that agreement will meet with approval of Government. I cannot speak too highly of the ability and tact displayed by Colonel Roos-Keppel in effecting this settlement, and would also bring to notice invaluable services of his assistant, Sahibzada Abdul Quaiyum. All the troops will leave Bazar Valley to-morrow."