THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it was true that an important agreement had been entered into with the Chief of the Amandebele country, and whether the Treaty would secure for our South African Colonies free access into the interior of Africa? He also asked whether any recent intelligence had been received as to the state of affairs in Zululand?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Lord KNUTSFORD)I am glad to inform the noble Earl that we have concluded a Treaty with the Chief of the Amandebele tribe, and I think that the best course for me to take will be to read its terms. The Treaty runs as follows:—
The Chief Lo Bengula, ruler of the tribe known as the Amandebele, together with the Mashuna and Makakalaka, tributaries of the same, hereby agrees to the following articles and conditions—that peace and amity shall continue for ever between Her Britannic Majesty, her subjects, and the Amandebele people; and the contracting Chief Lo Bengula engages to use his utmost endeavours to prevent any rupture of the same, to cause the strict observance of this Treaty, and so to carry out the spirit of the treaty of friendship which was entered into between his late father, the Chief Umsiligoas, with the then Governor of the Cape of Good Hope in the year of Our Lord 1836. It is hereby further agreed by Lo Bengula, Chief in and over the Amandebele country, with its dependencies as aforesaid, on behalf of himself and people, that he will refrain from entering into any correspondence or treaty with any foreign State or Power to sell, alienate, or cede, or permit, or countenance any sale, alienation, or cession of the whole or any part of the said Amandebele country under his chieftainship or upon any other subject without the previous knowledge and sanction of Her Majesty's High Commissioner for South Africa.I am strongly of opinion that a Treaty of this kind will be of great advantage 1151 as securing free access and trading facilities for our Colonies, and also as securing the Chief himself against unwary concessions of land to individuals or to foreign nations. I am obliged to the noble Lord, also, for giving me an opportunity of reading the last telegram from the Governor of Natal with respect to the very much to be regretted outbreak in Zululand. The telegram, which is dated Juno 4, runs as follows:—Dinizulu and Undabuko, having collected armed native followers at Ceeza, made raids upon and stole cattle of friendly peaceful Usutus. Warrants of arrest of Dinizulu and other ringleaders on charge of cattle stealing were issued 2nd June. Police, rifles, troops, went to Ceeza to execute warrants; were successfully resisted and compelled to retreat, Two men reported killed and two wounded. Levy of Basutos under M'Keen, and reinforcements of troops proceed immediately to support authority.It will be seen from the above that the report which appears in the telegram in some of this morning papers that Dinizulu had attacked and routed Usibepu, is incorrect. I may add that I have telegraphed to-day to Sir Arthur Havelock to say that all means are to be taken to put down this insurrection as speedily as possible.