1. That according to the definite assurances of President Wilson and Mr. Lloyd George, published in the newspapers to the effect that the wishes of the inhabitants would always be considered when deciding what Power should administer their country, we confidently hope they will redeem this pledge in the case of Togoland.

2. The people of Togoland are English-speaking, and during the régime of the late German Government the necessity for the acquisition of the English language was so great that influential men had to send their sons abroad for English education.

3. Since the British occupation the Administration is considered just, humane and uplifting, and we ardently desire the continuity of such a benevolent Government.

4. It will be an irreparable injustice to us natives of Togoland if we are handed over to rulers other than the British whose influence is predominant here.

In the event of our wishes not being granted we must feel that we are dealt with contrary to the popular demand.

This we solemnly and sincerely commend to your serious consideration in deciding the fate of this Colony which is sentimentally British. (Signed)

OCTAVIANO OLYMPIO,

President of Committee on behalf of Togoland Natives.

The Gold Coast Aborigines Society, "composed of Kings, Chiefs, Eastern, Central, Western Provinces in Conference at Cape Coast," have also sent a cablegram to the King-Emperor, praying "for retention at the Peace Conference Togoland, which is contiguous to Gold Coast, inhabitants whereof being their own kith and kin."

Parliamentary.

THE COLONIAL OFFICE DEBATE.

THE Under-Secretary for the Colonies in his statement in the House of Commons upon the introduction of the Colonial Office Vote on July 30 made very interesting references to a number of Colonial problems (other than the question of the Chartered Company and Rhodesia, which is specially referred to below), of which some record should appear in these pages.

After referring to the part borne by the Dominions and Colonies in the War and the great military effort which had been put forth by the Crown Colonies, as for instance in East Africa and Rhodesia where more than two-thirds of the male inhabitants joined the Army, while the Native troops had done valuable work, both as combatants, carriers and other

auxiliaries, Colonel Amery spoke of the importance of repair and reconstruction in the Colonies and Protectorates: this he said

"must mean something more than the restoration of pre-war conditions ; it must mean that we must set up a new and more positive standard of our duty and obligation towards the peoples to whom this House is in the position of a trustee, and to those territories whose boundless potentialities call urgently for development in the interests of their own inhabitants, of the British Empire as a whole, and of the impoverished and wasted world."

Large territories were likely to be assigned to Great Britain by mandate under the terms of the Peace Treaty; this would not, Colonel Amery believed, impose upon us conditions which we should not impose upon ourselves in dealing with subject peoples, but it was now our task to do this work more strenuously and successfully than ever.

We must have a new standard of effort and achievement, and a new consciousness in regard to the task that lies before us."

On the question of Health, Col. Amery said much had already been done and the death rate, both amongst white officials and natives, had largely gone down in East Africa, but owing to the War and the need for porters and carriers there had been a great flow of population backwards and forwards which had spread disease, and the state of that country called for very great efforts to bring it back to the pre-war position.

Colonel Amery contended that we had been in advance of other administrations in our endeavour to cope with the Liquor traffic. Last year the Colonial Secretary had announced complete prohibition of imported trade spirits for British West African Colonies, which involved a loss to the revenue of Nigeria alone of something like £1,000,000 a year, and of £500,000 to that of the Gold Coast. The British and French Governments had between themselves agreed to the raising of the minimum duty on trade spirits into their tropical Colonies to 17s. 6d. per gallon.

As regards the great labour problem Colonel Amery said we had to deal with it in a constructive spirit. The Government hoped to induce the Native to become his own employer and his own cultivator, and he instanced the success of the Cocoa Industry in the Gold Coast. He was not, he said, one who believed that the white man's plantation with hired coloured labour should cover the whole field, for he wished to see the field of the small native cultivator extended as widely as possible, but there was plenty of room and need for both kinds. The old indenture system had aroused strong opposition in India.

Referring to the education of Natives, Colonel Amery emphasized the importance of practical education in Agriculture. The Government wanted

to start Agricultural colleges for research from which new ideas and better methods would be diffused; the War had put a stop to measures of this sort, but he hoped to take the matter up again.

The Under-Secretary said that we had never realized sufficiently the immense possibilities of the Crown Colonies and Protectorates and the immense wealth which would be created by science, energy and organization.

"

The prime object, of course, of that development must be the welfare of the inhabitants of those regions. Our first duty is to them; our object is not to exploit them but to enable them materially as well as in every other respect to rise to a higher plane of living and civilization."

RHODESIA.

The Rhodesian land question and the position of the Chartered Company were well discussed in the debate.

COLONEL AMERY made special reference to it in his opening speech, and began by justifying the work of the Company, which he said was not a mere trading concern but had been started by Mr. Rhodes in order to retain a great region of Southern Central Africa under the British flag. "The fact that Rhodesia was British was invaluable in South Africa." The Company had been declared by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to have acted as agent of the Crown which owned the land, and as it was therefore entitled to reimbursement of deficits incurred on its administrative expenditure, the Government had appointed a Commission, with Lord Cave as Chairman, in order to determine what were commercial and what administrative expenses. The Commission would take evidence both here and in South Africa.

Colonel Amery said, in reply to questions by Sir Donald Maclean, that the Commission would consider whether the Matabele War expenditure was necessary and proper, and that the Government would accept the assessment of the Commission "as a correct and final interpretation in terms of money of the Privy Council judgment," but the whole question would be fully discussed in the House before Parliament was asked to vote any money.

Referring to the attack made upon the Chartered Company in Mr. Harris's pamphlet which he stigmatized as "rather lurid and highly inaccurate,”—although it was significant that Colonel Amery refrained from intimating a single inaccuracy,-Colonel Amery said that these matters. had been discussed at the time of the War, dwelt on the misrule of the Matabele, and said that the Imperial Government did then take effective steps to look after the interests of the natives.

The Under-Secretary also made a brief reference to the position of

Colonel WEDGWOOD: Is not this Ordinance solely directed to providing cheap labour for employers in the island?

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY: No, sir.

SOUTHERN Rhodesia.

June 30.

Mr. ADAMSON asked the Lord Privy Seal (1) whether, under the secret agreement signed by Sir Starr Jameson on August 14, 1893, half the loot seized from the Matabele became the property of the British South Africa Company; whether the total loot exceeded 70,000 head of cattle; and whether, in view of the statement that the British South Africa Company is claiming the costs of the Matabele war from His Majesty's Government, the value of the cattle and other loot will be deducted from the total claim. (2) Whether His Majesty's Government has reached any decision as to the liability of the Crown for those administrative charges which have devolved upon the British South Africa Company arising out of the action of their agents in South Africa acting in defiance of the imperial authorities, or charges incurred through mis-statements made to the representative of the Imperial Government. (3) Whether his attention has been drawn to the published admissions of the British South Africa Company, notably in the statement of policy issued in 1913, that it had not been possible for the company to keep distinct their administrative and commercial accounts; and whether in view of this and the claim of the company in the interests of their shareholders, he will consider the advisability of having a special examination of the accounts of the British South Africa Company and present, for the information of this House, a Report upon the alleged deficits in the company's accounts.

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY: I have been asked to answer the three questions addressed to the Lord Privy Seal, and I will deal with them together. As the Lord Privy Seal informed the Right Honourable Member on April 16 and May 13, His Majesty's Government recognize that the claim of the Company demands the closest scrutiny and are considering in what manner the nature and extent of the financial obligations arising out of the recent judgment of the Privy Council can best be ascertained. It is hoped to make a statement on the subject shortly.

Mr. ADAMSON asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the British South Africa Company has included in its provisional claim any sum for public works; whether in the statement of policy issued by the Company in 1913 the directors stated that public works would have to be taken over at fair valuation, whereas the royal charter provides that these works shall be taken over at a reasonable compensation; and whether he will draw the attention of the Company to this distinction.

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts of the question, Mr. Maguire in the statement, to which I understand my Right Honourable friend refers, quoted the actual terms of Article thirty-three of the Charter which bear on this point, and may be presumed to have had them in mind in his subsequent reference to the subject.

July 23.

Major LANE-Fox (by private notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what action it has been decided to take in connection with the Report of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the special reference as to the ownership of the unalienated land in Southern Rhodesia ?

Lieut.-Colonel AMERY: As I stated on April 2, the British South Africa Company have approached the Secretary of State with a view to obtaining a settlement of the amount due to the Company for its administrative expenditure in accordance with the Report of the Judicial Committee. The Secretary of State has now appointed a Commission to examine the Company's claim. The Commission will consist of Lord Cave, who will act as chairman, Lord Chalmers, and Sir W. Peat. The terms of reference are as follow :

WHEREAS under and by virtue of an ORDER of His Majesty in Council dated July 16, 1914, the question of the ownership of the unalienated land in Southern Rhodesia has been the subject of a Special Reference to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

AND WHEREAS the Report of the Judicial Committee dated July 29, 1918, inter alia stated that so long as the British South Africa Company continues to administer Southern Rhodesia under His Majesty the Company is entitled to dispose of the unalienated lands in due course of administration and to apply the moneys or revenues derived therefrom in duly reimbursing all proper outlays on administrative account in any current year or in past years, and further if the Company's administration of Southern Rhodesia should be determined by His Majesty the Company would have the right to look to the Crown to secure to it, either out of the proceeds of further sales of the lands by whomsoever made or if His Majesty should grant away these lands or the proceeds to others from public funds, the due reimbursement of any outstanding balance of aggregated advances made by the Company for necessary and proper expenditure upon the administration of Southern Rhodesia.

AND WHEREAS an Order of His Majesty in Council dated August 2, 1918 (a copy whereof is appended hereto), His Majesty was pleased to approve of the said report.