§ * SIR CHARLES W. DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can inform the House whether any sanction has been given by the Secretary of State to a suggested military expedition against the Munshis in Nigeria, or whether the policy previously accepted by the Colonial Office on the advice of the chief authorities of Southern and Northern Nigeria is to continue.
§ COLONEL SEELYNo military expedition against the Munshis has been suggested or sanctioned. In accordance with settled policy steps are being taken to extend the area of our effective control with a view to ensuring the peace and good government of the country; but there has been no change in policy nor is any in contemplation.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)asked whether the expedition would receive military support.
§ COLONEL SEELYCertainly. In accordance with what has been done we endeavoured to extend our effective control to prevent internecine warfare, but there is no fresh policy. Of course, if force is used against the expedition, force must be used n reply, but special instructions have been given to avoid the use of force by every possible means.