HC Deb 15 March 1920 vol 126 cc1789-90
32. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Prime Minister whether, as stated before Lord Cave's Commission, when the Lippert Concession was transferred to the Chartered Company, Mr. Lippert formally notified the High Commissioner in South Africa that it was agreed that in giving him this concession Lobengula had not parted with any of the land rights of the Matabele; and whether he can say why this material fact was not placed before the Judicial Committee of Special Reference?

The UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE for the COLONIES (Lieut. - Colonel Amery)

Yes, Sir; I have seen the letter referred to in which Mr. Lippert stated that King Lobengula claimed that he had not given up his sovereign rights over the land under the Lippert concession. If the hon. and gallant Member will look at the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council he will see that the Judicial Committee took the same view of the concession, and I think he may assume that the legal advisers of the Crown considered carefully what was the best method of laying their case before the Committee.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Yes, but were the judicial officers of the Crown aware of this letter referring to the Lippert concession which made it quite clear that the land rights were not transferred?

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY

I think they were aware of the facts, and the actual document is a much more material element in the case than a letter containing the opinion of one person about another person's view.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

But was it not Mr. Lippert himself who got the concession, and therefore was he not most likely to be aware of the terms of the concession?

Mr. ROYCE

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that Mr. Lippert was very much annoyed afterwards with the Chartered Company, who took the business over, and did all he could to crab the deal?

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY

Yes, it was in a letter expressing his annoyance that he made this incidental reference.