VISCOUNT CLIFDENMy Lords, I beg to ask the Lord President of the Council whether Her Majesty's Government agree that Boussa and Nikki, with surrounding territory, are under our protection; whether the above-mentioned places, amongst others, have been occupied by France, and for how long; and whether, if so, any protest has been made by Her Majesty's Government; whether any native chief has appealed to us for protection against the French; whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to leave the French in possession of these territories; whether Lieutenant Bretonnet (or his companions), who is said to have occupied Boussa, has sold some of the inhabitants as slaves? I have only a few words to say as to my reason for putting these Questions, which, I have no doubt, will receive the usual satisfactory answers from the Front Bench. Last year—I will not trouble your Lordships to go further back than that—we were put off every day when we wanted to know what was going on in the East by the one statement that we must not disturb the concord of Europe. Then this year the noble Marquess at the head of the Government told us what had happened, and that 544 nothing could have been better than what had happened, and that he had nothing further to add on the subject. He led us to believe that we lived in the best of worlds and under the most admirable Government. Now I have no doubt that the question I am raising, which is a very serious one and concerns the honour and welfare of the country, will be allowed to hang on the same as the affairs in the East, and that next year the noble Marquess—I hope he will be in his place next year—will tell us again that this is the best of worlds and the most admirable of Governments.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Earl of SELBORNE)I have been requested by the noble Duke to answer the Questions of the noble Viscount as being responsible in this House for the department which is concerned with the places referred to. I think it is scarcely necessary for me to take up the cudgels for the Prime Minister. I think your Lordships will be able to decide for yourselves whether his attitude as regards the Eastern Question last year is strictly such as has been represented by the noble Viscount. I will, however, as shortly as possible, endeavour to give the noble Viscount a satisfactory answer to the Questions he puts. Boussa and Nikki, which are in Borgu, have by Treaty accepted British protection. The British protectorate over Borgu was formally notified to the French Government on the 1st January, 1895; and, through informal communications, the French Government had been aware of it for nearly three years before that date. Boussa was occupied by French troops in February, 1897, and Nikki in November, 1897. Her Majesty's Government have protested against these occupations. The King of Boussa has appealed for protection against the French. One of the points to be determined by the Commission now sitting in Paris is that as to the respective claims of Great Britain and France to the possession or Boussa and Nikki. Her Majesty's Government have no information as to any sale of slaves at Boussa.
§ The House adjourned at 4.45.