§ 12. Mr. PARKINSON (for Mr. T. GRIFFITHS)asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to give the House any information as to the action to deal with slave raiders from Abyssinia into Kenya?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERAs the reply is a somewhat long one I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ On the 1st November the Governor of Kenya reported by telegraph that he had learnt of two attacks on British subjects by Ethiopian tribesmen. The first appears to have taken place about the 30th September. According to the reports of survivors 94 British subjects of the Gabbra tribe, including women and children, had been murdered by Gelubba tribesmen armed with rifles. The Gabbra who carried only spears were on a peaceful mission to Lokaria's village, situated to the east of Lake Rudolf on the Kenya-Ethiopia border. About 7,000 head of stock were stolen. The first attack was followed by a raid by Gelubba riflemen 70 miles into Kenya territory, which resulted on the 19th October in 26 persons, presumed to be Gabbra, and believed to include women and children, being murdered near Longendoti and much stock being taken. Troops were despatched by the Kenya Government to the scene, and have subsequently been reinforced, as a measure of precaution.
821§ The news was simultaneously telegraphed to His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa who obtained a personal audience of the Emperor of Ethiopia. The Emperor undertook to send immediate orders to the provincial authorities to deal with the raiders. His Majesty's Government will do all in their power to secure the payment of adequate compensation and the adoption of effective measures to prevent a recurrence of these outrages. Negotiations with the Ethiopian Government are still proceeding. I may add that I have no evidence that the attacks had for their object the taking of slaves.