HC Deb 13 July 1911 vol 28 cc477-8
Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the trial at the Nakuru High Court, British East Africa, of the Honourable G. Cole for murdering a native; whether he has observed that the accused person admitted having shot the man, in spite of which the jury, after a few minutes' deliberation, returned to court with the verdict of not guilty; and whether he has received any communication from Nairobi or has made or proposes to make any representations to the British East African Government on the subject?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely, for Mr. Harcourt)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the Secretary of State for the Colonies gave yesterday to the hon. Member for West Leeds, stating that a report was coming from the Governor.

Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

Has not the Report been actually received, and has it not been in the hands of the Colonial Office for some considerable time?

Colonel SEELY

I do not think that can be so, according to the answer of my right hon. Friend. The answer was:— The Governor of the East Africa Protectorate is sending a full report on the matter, and pending the receipt of his despatch, I think it would be premature to make any statement."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th July, 1911, col. 368.] That answer was only given yesterday, so it cannot have been "in the hands of the Colonial Office for some considerable time."

Mr. ASHLEY

May I ask whether he questions the justice of the jury's decision?

Colonel SEELY

It is not for me to say. I could not possibly answer a question of that kind.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware Mr. Cole admitted he killed the man?

Colonel SEELY

I think we had better wait for the Report.