§ 16. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the request of Sir Hugh Clifford, the Governor of Nigeria, to publish the correspondence which recently took place between Lord Leverhulme and himself has been refused; and whether, in view of the fact that the whole correspondence is available in this country, he will reconsider his decision?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREWhen Sir Hugh Clifford asked permission to publish his correspondence with Lord Leverhulme, my right hon. Friend informed him that he deprecated prolongation of the controversy by such a publication. No further vindication of his position appeared to the Secretary of State to be necessary. To that opinion my right hon. Friend adheres. The correspondence, which he has now seen published in full in "West Africa," was not communicated to him, and his only previous knowledge of its contents was contained in a brief summary in a telegram from the Governor.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he has any explanation of the incident? How is it, for example, that it is right for the Governor to entertain a distinguished lord who visits the Port of Lagos, and it is wrong for the Governor to accept hospitality in return?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI really do not think it is a matter for me or the House to settle points of social procedure between a visitor and a local Governor.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn the other hand, is not this a Crown Colony, and does not the Governor entertain out of an entertainment allowance voted by this House?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GORENo, certainly not. Not one penny is voted by this House.