AFFAIRS AT LAKE NYASSA. (Hansard, 25 March 1889)

§ THE EARL OF ABERDEEN
, in rising to ask if further information can now be given as to the present condition of affairs at Lake Nyassa, especially with reference to the reported arrest (and subsequent release on bail) of Mr. Ross, British Vice Consul, said: My Lords, I do not think it will be at all unreasonable that a question such as I have placed on the Paper should be asked at the present time, although I am aware that so recently as the early part of last week a question bearing upon the matter was put in another place and answered by the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; but at that time the matter to which I allude in this question had not been reported to this House, at any rate it was not alluded to on that occasion. There is no doubt a very large amount of interest has been attracted in this country towards affairs in the Nyassa Territory, and I think this interest has been extended and increased owing to the fact that an association known as the African Lakes Company has been carrying on operations recently in that region. That Company had its origin in Scotland, and is chiefly equipped by Scotchmen. It carries on operations designed to stimulate and encourage the development of the country both in the matter of trade and missionary enter-prize, and these two objects are carried on harmoniously and in perfect consistency. For example, one of the rules of the Association is that no intoxicating drinks should be sold in their district, and though, of course, every such effort requires caution, I have heard no complaints as to the Company having shown a want of discretion in the zeal that they have displayed in their work. On the contrary, I am led to suppose that at present, if they are involved in any complications, that is not in consequence of any aggressiveness on their part, but rather in consequence of the jealousy, and I venture to say the unreasonable jealousy and suspicion of others. My question is rather incomplete, because I do not state what the district is in which Mr. Ross is Vice 681 Consul. It is in the Fillamare territory, which is Portuguese territory, and I understand that he is supported by our Consul at Mozambique. This gentleman is also agent for the African Lakes Company to which I have referred. I can quite understand that the noble Marquess who will answer the question may deem it necessary to exercise considerable reticence on the subject, especially in view of the actual proceedings which have been taken by the Portuguese, but I sincerely hope that it will be possible for him to give some information which may allay uneasiness, more especially with regard to the position of the African Lakes Company.

§ *THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
In answer to the noble Lord, I have to say that we have no information at the Foreign Office with reference to the incident alluded to in this question. I do not know whether it has actually taken place or not. But the place which he mentions is not in connection with the telegraph, and we have little information with respect to the African Lakes Company which would at all satisfy the very natural interest which the noble Lord feels in the subject. The enter-prize is one which we all regard with the greatest sympathy, and the progress of which will be advantageous not only to the progress of this country, but to the civilization of those who dwell in those regions. I hope that enterprize will go on and be successful. It has at present met with no actual obstacle except that very serious obstacle offered by the hostility of the Arabs—who fear that their slave-trading operations may be interrupted by the success and prosperity of the company; and undoubtedly they have met with very serious resistance, and some of their agents have been exposed to considerable danger. But so far as I know there has been no loss of British life in the struggle. Still, very great danger has been incurred, and it is obvious that we can do little or nothing to shield them against the enterprize of these various tribes of natives, especially the Arabs, whose opportunities of hindering them are very considerable. With respect to the position of the Portuguese, all I have to say is that the discussions relating to our status in that district, and the status of the Portuguese are going on at the present moment, and it is, therefore, 682 not convenient that I should enter upon a discussion of that matter. None of the obstacles which have interfered with the development and prosperity of the African Lake Company have been interposed through the agency, as far as I know, of the Portuguese. We have, therefore, on that ground no international complaint against them. The whole question is one of great difficulty, and is being watched with great anxiety and vigilance by Her Majesty's Government. I can assure the noble Lord that we shall spare no effort that we can properly make for the purpose of furthering the salutary enterprize and designs of British, and especially Scottish traders in that district. But the region is not British territory, and it is not under British protection, and at present any action we might take must be limited and controlled by the circumstances to which I have referred. If there is any other matter on which I can give the noble Lord any information, I shall be glad to do so. But I do not know that I can now usefully pursue the subject any further.

THE EARL OF DUNDONALD
There is one point on which I should like information, and that is as to the action of the Portuguese with regard to the munitions of war—whether they permit munitions of war to go up to our countrymen? I believe that they did allow three guns to go up there—an Armstrong, a Nordenfelt, and a mountain gun, and a certain amount of ammunition. If they did so, it would have a very good effect. Of course, it would be impossible for our countrymen on the Lake to resist an Arab attack unless they had an unlimited supply of ammunition. Therefore, I should be very glad if the noble Marquess could give any information to the House as to whether the Portuguese are more liberal in allowing arms and ammunition to go up for the use of our countrymen.

§ *THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
The policy of the Portuguese Government, resembling that of other Governments on the coast of Africa, is to forbid the importation of arms and ammunition for fear of their reaching the tribes in the interior, so as to give additional opportunities for conflict and bloodshed. 683 I do not know that we can take any exception to that general policy. Undoubtedly we have had occasion to urge upon them to relax that prohibition for the purpose of permitting warlike stores which were required by the agents of the African Lake Company in defending themselves against the Arab attacks; and it is also true that we have not met with that willingness to aid us in a question dictated by obvious motives of humanity that we should have expected. A considerable quantity, however, both of arms and ammunition have been passed by the Portuguese, and it is not within my knowledge now that agents of the African Lake Company are suffering any inconvenience in consequence of obstacles which are imposed to the importation of arms by the fiscal regulations of the Portuguese Government.