§ 67. Major ENTWISTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the elected members of the Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council have communicated to His Majesty's Government their desire for the grant of responsible government in accordance with the terms of the Supplemental Royal Charter of 1915; whether the Secretary of State replied that until Lord Cave's Commission had reported upon the claim of the Chartered Company against the Crown no advice could be tendered to His Majesty; and whether the elected members have expressed surprise and disappointment at this reply and have formally repudiated any liability whatever for the debts of the Chartered Company?
§ Lieut.-Colonel AMERYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part the reply of the Secretary of State referrd to other reasons besides the unsettled question of the Chartered Company's claim as constituting difficulties in the way of an early compliance with the request of the Southern Rhodesia Legislative Council. As regards the third part the Council certainly expressed disappointment at the Secretary of State's reply, but I do not regard them as having repudiated any liability whatever for the debts of the Chartered Company, which would include debts contracted for public works. I hope shortly to make a statement on the whole subject.