§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will telegraph to the Governor of Somaliland, with reference to the sentences of death passed on Abdi Farah, Ali Abdi, Isman Ali, and Saliban Ahamed, that these sentences, if confirmed by the Governor, should not be carried out until these men or their representatives have had time to lodge an appeal to His Majesty in Council should they so desire?
§ Sir A. WILSONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that four men recently sentenced to death by the protectorate court established under the Somaliland Order in Council were refused leave to be heard by counsel; and whether he will give telegraphic instructions for execution of the sentence to be deferred until he has himself studied the proceedings in the case?
Mr. THOMASI myself have no power to review the proceedings of the court, but I have already asked the Governor by telegraph to arrange that if the appeal which is being made to the Protectorate Court of Appeal fails, the sentences should not be carried into effect until the representatives of the sentenced men have had time to decide whether to apply for permission to appeal to His Majesty in Council. It will be understood that the time allowed for such a decision is not unlimited.