§ THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether St. Lucia Bay is British terri- 61 tory, and whether he can state what extent of the coast to the north of Natal is under British protection? The noble Earl said, he did not wish to discuss the Colonial policy of the Government; but as there had been so much misunderstanding on the subject, he thought it would be a great relief to have some information on the point.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYI have to say that St. Lucia Bay was ceded to the British Crown a little more than 40 years ago by Panda, the then King of Zululand, who undoubtedly exercised Sovereign powers over the territory in question. No steps were taken at the time in consequence of that cession, and nothing has been done in the long interval which has occurred until the close of last year, when it seemed to us desirable to re-assert or keep alive what was assumed to be our right to the ceded territory by hoisting the British Flag. It was not a new annexation, but simply intended to remind those whom it might concern that we had rights over that coast which were undoubtedly ours, and which we had never given up. The flag was accordingly hoisted, and it remains there. I do not think it would be quite fair to the House if I did not add that we have received communications from the German Government expressing unwillingness to recognize the validity of our title upon various grounds, one of which was the long time during which the claim has lain in abeyance. The matter is still under discussion between the two Governments; and while that is the case I cannot, in the interest of the Public Service, give any further details. With regard to the latter part of the Question, I have already stated what is the present position in regard to St. Lucia Bay; but as to the rest of the coast to the north of Natal, that part only which forms part of the Reserve is under British protection.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONI do not propose to comment on the rather serious statement which my noble Friend has made with regard to the intervention of foreign policy or difference in this question; but I wish to clear up one point which seems to me of very great consequence, and which arises out of the last words which he used with regard to Natal. I understand from my noble Friend that the state of the case is 62 this—that we have asserted, or that we have re-asserted, a Sovereignty to St. Lucia Bay; but the territory at the back of St. Lucia Bay is Zululand. At the time when I had the honour of holding the Seals of Office Zululand was not English territory. I should like to understand this distinctly, assuming our claim to St. Lucia Bay is made, whether or not we have a continuous territory from the interior down to St. Lucia Bay, or whether, as I rather gather from the reply of the noble Earl, there is an intervening tract of land at the back of St. Lucia Bay cutting St. Lucia Bay off from the rest of our Possessions in South Africa? That is an extremely important Question, for the absence of this continuity of territory may give rise, and possibly will give rise, to serious complications hereafter.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYBehind St. Lucia Bay and that part of the coast that belongs to Zululand, to the southward, is the Reserve, and over that we have assumed protection. What our claim to St. Lucia Bay is I have already stated; but the territory immediately behind that is the territory of Zululand, not forming part of the Reserve.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONI understand, then, that our territories are continuous from the Reserve down to the sea coast.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYNo; I understand the noble Earl to ask me with regard to the territory, not on the sea coast, but at the back, and I answered accordingly. That has not been ceded to England, and we have no other rights over it than over the whole of Zulu-land.
§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHsaid, he hoped that the Government would fully realize the value of St. Lucia Bay. The claim of England to that Bay was laid down many years ago, and though it had fallen into abeyance that was no reason why it should be abandoned.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.