On Monday, Lord Stanmore, one of Mr. Gladstone's last Peers,
but one who rewards himself for previous fidelity by considerable independence, heckled Lord Kimberley in the House of Lords on the subject of Uganda. He was very anxious that a definite conclusion should be come to about the railway. The Government should remember that while we were considering, our neighbours were working. If once a trade route was fairly established and used, partly by road and partly by rail, through the German East African terd- tories, the difficulties of the administration of Uganda would, be increased, while there would be a loss of trade, of position,. and of influence. That is, we believe, a very important con- sideration, though one which the Government seem inclined to ignore. Lord Kimberley's answer was not at all satis- factory. We are apparently trying to do without either a, road or a railway, but are sending up a steamer and some launches for service on the Lakes. With regard to the roads,. Lord Kimberley stated that it is very difficult for us to un- dertake any considerable works of that sort "on account of the uncertainty of the position we occupy with regard to the East Africa Company." No doubt; but what an admission of administrative indecision and ineptitude I There was nothing: to prevent the Government regularising the position of the' Company nearly a year ago, and yet the Government have gone on dawdling with the question month after month. Sir Edward Grey, when he dealt with the position of the Company in the House of Commons on Thursday, could give no more satisfactory answer as to their intentions.
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