§ 61. Captain W. BENNasked the Lord Privy Seal whether on 16th April, 1919, in reply to the Member for West Fife, he stated that the claim of the British South Africa Company for a sum of approximately £8,000,000 demanded the closest scrutiny and that the Government would not commit themselves to any payment without the sanction of the House of Commons; whether His Majesty's Government has under consideration a 1018 proposal for adjusting this claim; and whether he will give an assurance that no agreement will be made which restricts the full liberty of this House in accordance with the reply of the right hon. Gentleman on 16th April, 1919?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.
§ Captain BENNDid not the right hon. Gentleman promise that no payment would be made without the House being consulted?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have already definitely promised that we were not absolutely committed to any payment until the House had an opportunity of considering it.
§ Sir D. MACLEANWill the right hon. gentleman more clearly define what he means by absolutely committed? Am I right in assuming he does not mean that he will only come down and announce a thing done, but will give the House an opportunity of fair discussion?
§ Mr. BILLINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman make any distinction between "absolutely committed" and "honourably committed"?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, I do not. I do not think that difficulty arises. It is not like a Treaty. Even if the Government proposes something, the House will still be perfectly free to give any decision it likes.
§ Captain BENNHas the right hon. Gentleman observed the statement made at the inquiry last week that a decision would be arrived at in a few days?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, I did not specially notice that. The question is whether or not the decision will be given without consulting the House. Of course not, but the three gentlemen appointed will, I think, be the best judges.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan we be assured before the Debate at any rate takes place that we shall not be committed as to who is to pay this £8,000,000, whether the British taxpayer or the Colonists?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think the hon. and gallant Gentleman may assume that. In any case, I hope, whoever else pays, the British taxpayer will not.
§ 64. Mr. CHARLES WHITEasked the Lord Privy Seal whether it has been suggested to His Majesty's Government that Lord Cave's Commission of Inquiry into the necessary and proper administrative deficits of the British South Africa Company should report without completing its examination of the accounts; whether he is aware that at the adjournment of the Inquiry in March Lord Cave had only reached the period of the Jameson raid; and whether the right hon. Gentleman will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government will refrain from agreeing to the course proposed?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWAs regards the first part of the question, I am not aware that anyone has suggested that Lord Cave's Commission should report without completing its examination of the company's accounts. As regards the second part, it is a mistake to suppose that the inquiries of the Commission have been limited to the period preceding the Jameson raid. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.