57. Sir T. BRAMSDONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the initial claim by the British South Africa Company of £8,000,000 sterling from the Crown; whether he is aware that the elected members of the legislative council of Southern Rhodesia have now unanimously passed a resolution, and communicated this to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, repudiating any liability whatever for these debts, amounting to several millions sterling; and whether he is prepared to give an assurance that these deficits of the chartered company will not be allowed to fall upon the British taxpayer?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Lieutenant-Colonel Amery)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A meeting of elected members by 10 votes to 1 resolved that the award on the company's claim does not concern the people of Southern Rhodesia. With regard to the last part, I would refer to my reply to the right hon. Member for Camborne on 26th November last.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-G0REIs it not the decision of the judicial authority of the Privy Council that the British Crown is liable for these payments?
§ Lieutenant-Colonel AMERYIt is not for me to interpret the decision of the Privy Council. I understand their decision was that the Chartered Company were acting as agents of the Crown in the administration of Rhodesia.