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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O., 885

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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lake shore, forming one of the most beautiful little townships in Africa. This repre- sents an outlay of £65,000; present value, perhaps, from £40,000 to £45,000.

11. The engrossing and advanced character of Uganda Kingdom politics in a country surrounded by others comparatively crude and seemingly but delusively so-eventless, has already exercised a tendency to localise headquarters' thought to the detriment of those other countries. These countries are now progressing, and are demanding a greater share of attention, and this is more easily given perhaps in a locality less directly in touch with the Uganda native capital's absorbing attractions than Kampala would be.

CONTEMPLATED COMPROMISE.

In pursuing consideration of this great question I feel that if it were unem- barrassed by sleeping sickness complications I would at this stage be content to view with tolerance the retention of Entebbe as the administrative headquarters, provided that the superiority of Kampala as the commercial centre be recognised and com- merce be allowed to develop itself there of its momentum; we to cease attempting to artificially force the flow of its development to Entebbe. Trade must inevitably follow the line of least resistance and produce, which always finds itself as a matter of course at Kampala, is bound sooner or later to take the shortest road to the waterway, that being, as is already shown, a much shorter distance off than is Entebbe. A proper port in the Murchison Gulf would draw most of the trade from the Entebbe port, and so leave Entebbe simply and entirely for the Commissioner's and the other principal headquarters' offices and residences. It could be argued that this might perhaps reduce the extent of occupation of Entebbe to a degree that could be practicably controlled, even against the insidious sleeping sickness, and I have been tempted in my anxiety to prevent a total loss of money and energy to propose this as an alternative scheme to that involving a complete movement of Government. But that frame of mind was brought about by association with a long and tedious struggle to reduce the financial burden which this country bears in its work of civilising development of Uganda and which prompted me, particularly when success is most promising, to at once regard with dislike any scheme involving severe financial loss; and the scheme now under consideration must most surely be included in that category.

It must, however, be remembered that the greatest work accomplished in Uganda at so much public expense has been one of pure humanitarianism, one which, indeed, might rank well among England's achievements. It would be deplorable then if the value of that work is, almost at the period of its culmination, to be vitiated by purely economic considerations. As I have indicated elsewhere the responsibilty of main- taining a centre from which is possible the propagation of a most deadly disease is grave, and demands a treatment which should not be hampered by even questions of extreme economic importance.

Of course, as I hope my observations show, I am not convinced that the complete movement to Kampala would, in view of prospective advantages, prove to be economically unsound. It is a question open to much argument.

AN EXPRESSION OF OPINION.

My own position in regard to the whole subject is as follows:- After my experiences in controlling the crises of 1897-1898 it is impossible for me to entertain the slightest doubt as to the original selection of Entebbe as a permanent capital having been a mistake.

And though I have been much concerned by the counterweight of argument lying in the fact of the subsequent expenditure and its admirable results so agreeably obvious in Entebbe, I am convinced that it does not sufficiently outweigh the advan- tages to be derived from a total removal of the capital to Kampala, and that it is wise to at once "cut the loss" of from £40,000 to £50,000, including any reasonable compensations, rather than perpetuate the mistake which has been made.

In case the measure should be contemplated, I may mention that it has been intimated to me that the creation of a sinking fund at an annual premium of £110, or a single premium insurance of £3,535, would secure the repayment of the capital outlay of £80,000 in 95 years, a greater sum than would cover the loss.

I am not oblivious of the possibility that science may at any moment discover a preventive of, or antidote against, sleeping sickness, which discovery should materially reduce the importance of the objection on that count to Entebbe. I

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remember simply that sleeping sickness is a positive fact, and that thousands of lives may be thrown away whilst waiting on the very uncertain chance of such a discovery. In support of my opinion I have that of Major J. Will and Dr. R. N. Moffat, C.M.G., who are the medical authorities principally concerned in the subject. I regard any scheme for a temporary removal of the capital as being beyond practical consideration, so I have ventured to omit reference to that question.

Under the circumstances which obviate consultation with the Commissioner I give a strong expression of opinion on the important subject of this despatch with some diffidence, but I think he would himself agree that I can, without presumption, regard my experience as being sufficient to justify my speaking with decision on a matter which has long had my most serious consideration. I have, however, already fully explained to him my views, which were received at the time with some favour.

I have, &c.,

23686

No. 66.

GEORGE WILSON.

BRITISH CENTRAL AFRICA PROTECTORATE. THE EARL OF ELGIN to COMMISSIONER SIR A. SHARPE. (Confidential.)

Downing Street, August 10, 1906.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram (No. 28) of the 30th of June,* in which you suggest that two additional medical officers should be sent out to enable you to carry into effect the measures outlined in the memo- randum of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (a copy of which accompanied my despatch, No. 114, of the 18th of May†), for the prevention of the spread of sleeping sickness.

2. Since my despatch of the 18th of May was written a report has been received from the Medical Officer of the Local Government Board, who is of opinion that the system of quarantine recommended by the Liverpool School could not be brought effectively into operation. The researches of the doctors on which those recommendations are based appear to prove that so large a percentage of Central African natives present the symptom of enlarged cervical glands, which is regarded by them as the criterion of infection, that it is impossible to avoid the conclusion either that this criterion is mistaken, in which case there would be a risk of sending absolutely healthy people to segregation camps, or that the measures necessary for an effective enforcement of quarantine would be so extensive as to be impracticable.

3. The opinions of the Principal Medical Officer of the East Africa Protec- torate and Uganda, of Sir P. Manson, M.D., K.C.M.G., and of the Tropical Diseases Committee of the Royal Society are in agreement with this view, and appear to indicate that the best prospect of coping successfully with the disease lies in the discovery of some specific remedy, rather than in preventive measures.

4. The efforts of the Royal Society are now, I understand, about to be directed to the discovery of such a remedy; and, in the meanwhile, I do not consider that the expense of increasing the medical staff of the British Central Africa Protectorate could be justified to the Board of Treasury.

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SIR,

No. 67.

I have, &c.,

ELGIN.

COLONIAL OFFICE to LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.

Downing Street, August 16, 1906.

I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant enclosing a copy of a memorandum on the prevention of the spread of sleeping sickness in Africa by the Principal Medical Officer to the Board.

‡ No. 61.

• No. 57.

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† No. 55.

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