Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/154

 146] ENGLISH HISTOKY. pro

that head. For the company's land rights, for its mineral rights, and as compensation for the dislocation of its business it would be paid 150,000/. It would also be entitled for ninety- nine years to half the proceeds of any royalty on minerals worked. For the buildings, steamers, war materials, etc., which were to be taken over from the company a sum of 115,000/. was to be given. The total sum payable would thus be 865,000/. 820,000/. would be raised for the purposes of the bill by way of loan, and the rest of the money asked for would be charged on the Consolidated Fund. He next stated that throughout Lagos, the Niger Coast Protectorate, and the Niger Company's territory, all inland Customs frontiers would be abolished, and there would be perfect freedom of trade for all alike. There would be a common arms law through the whole region, and a com- mon tariff, except that the importation of trade spirits into Northern Nigeria would be prohibited as now. For the present the territories would be divided for administrative pur- poses into three divisions, all under the control of the Colonial Office.

Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, on behalf of the official Opposition, raised no objection to the plan proposed by the Government; but this half-acquiescence in its details did not commend itself to the " Stalwarts " or the " Little Englanders " of the Eadical party, who found the Irish Nationalists wholly in sympathy. Numerous dilatory motions supported by much irrelevant speaking were successfully defeated by the Minis- terialists, and the resolution was agreed to by 223 to 101 votes, after the application of the closure.

Whilst the bill, founded on this resolution, was preparing, Mr. Chamberlain was subjected to unscrupulous attacks on the ground that, as a shareholder in the Royal Niger Company, he had been instrumental in procuring the overgenerous treat- ment of which the opponents of the purchase scheme complained. It eventually transpired that Mr. Chamberlain's interest was from the very first patriotic and not mercenary. When the Royal, Niger Company had been originally started, he was impressed with the value and importance of the work they had taken in hand, and placed his money in the venture when no immediate prospects of remunerative trading existed. Although to their credit the leading members of the Opposition did not, openly at least, associate themselves with the insinua- tions against the Secretary for the Colonies, he thought it right to make a manly statement (July 6) to the House. When the question of the possible revocation of the charter came before the Government, he at. once informed the Prime Minister and his colleagues, that, having an interest (3,000/.) in the company, he begged to be excused from offering any opinion on the transaction, or taking any part whatever in the negotiations. These negotiations were left wholly in the hands of the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, and until they were substantially