§ 26. Mr. LESLIE SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on which day he will lay upon the Table the conditions of sale of enemy properties in Nigeria; and whether this House will be given an opportunity of discussing the whole matter before the sale takes place?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe conditions of sale were laid on the Table yesterday. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by the discussion suggested by my hon. Friend, but if there is any general desire for it I am sure that my right hon. Friend would give facilities for it.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLIs my right hon. Friend aware that there are many details in the Bill and the conditions of sale, such as the discretion of the Governor, which are causing a great deal of disquiet in this country, and does he not think that it would be better to have them considered in this House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am not aware of any disquiet that has been caused. As I have already said, if there is any general desire for a discussion, I am aure that the Prime Minister will be willing to arrange it.
§ Commander WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the conditions of sale neutrals are allowed to purchase these enemy properties m Nigeria, thereby establishing further alien control?
§ Sir E. CARSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it important that the 1704 House should once for all settle whether these properties, which are derived from winding-up German businesses, ought not to be handed over to British rather than neutral countries, with a view to developing these Colonies for ourselves?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs there seems to be some general desire to discuss the matter, if my right hon. Friend will put a question to the Prime Minister to-morrow I shall discuss it with him in the meantime.
§ Mr. SCOTTWill the conditions of sale be at the disposal of the House so that we can see what are the proposals of the Government in Nigeria?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWHon. Members have the opportunity of examining them. They would be a voluminous thing to circulate.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI will consider that.
§ 27. Mr. SCOTTasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will be prepared to reconsider his decision that; the enemy properties in Nigeria are not to> be sold to an all-British company, with official representation on its board of directors, if such company were willing to submit to a fair-price clause or other effective arrangements to ensure the payment of fair prices to the natives for their produce?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not know to what decision my hon. Friend is referring. Any British company which is not acting: on behalf of enemy interests will be able to bid for the properties at the auction.
§ Mr. ASHLEYHow can you tell whether he is bidding for an enemy or not?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe provisions in the conditions of sale make every effort to secure—I believe successfully; we are-quite ready to discuss it—that the property shall not be transferred to enemies, at any time.
§ Sir E. CARSONWill the right hon.. Gentleman consider the offer of a British-company to take over these properties at a fair valuation made by the Government?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have seen no such definite offer on behalf of any British company. All the information which I have about it is a letter from a very influential gentleman, the chairman of the West African Committee, sending me-copies of the questions which were going; 1705 to be put by my hon. Friend, and saying that if the suggestion were agreed to they should be prepared to form a company.
§ Sir E. CARSONMy right hon. Friend has not answered what I asked. Will he consider, if the offer is made to the Government, whether they would sell at a fair valuation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIf the matter is to be discussed, it can be dealt with very much better in Debate than by question and answer.
§ Mr. MOLTENOAs there is already a very close combination, should we do anything to make that combination still more complete?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWOf course, that kind of consideration has had weight with the Colonial Office in the decision which they have taken.
§ Mr. SCOTTDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that one great advantage of an all-British company would be greater Government control for the purpose of insuring to natives a fair price for their products?