cuAp, vi] GOVERNOR AS IMPERIAL OFFICER 293
if I would give him written instructions. This I did, upon
which he wrote me following Minute :—
Begins : * As Your Excellency has thought it necessary to give instruc-
tions to suspend executions which were confirmed by the Executive
Council and appointed to be carried out on Friday next, I feel that it is
impossible for me to continue in office as Prime Minister, and I beg to
tender my resignation. My colleagues are unanimous in supporting me
in what under the present circumstances appears to them a most important
Constitutional question.” Ends.
As your Lordship has only directed me to suspend execu-
tions in order to have my further observations I replied to
Prime Minister as follows :—
Begins : It is with the greatest regret that I have received above
Minute. I should feel much obliged if your colleagues and yourself will
retain office whilst I am making further communication to the Secretary of
State for the Colonies.” Ends.
To this he has replied as follows :—
Begins : “1 have no wish to cause Your Excellency inconvenience and,
with my colleagues, will retain office whilst further communication is being
made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. I would point out as in
my opinion matter as affecting native population is most urgent I trust
there will be no delay in receiving reply to your communication.” Ends.
I trust that with the additional facts contained in this tele-
gram your Lordship will see your way to withdraw objection.
I am afraid that very intense feeling will be excited in the
Colony by my having suspended execution.—MoCaLLuMm.’
The reply was :—
Your telegram 29th March, No. 1, giving full information
as to the procedure and circumstances of trial and the
opinion of the Attorney-General thereupon, and your own
careful examination of the whole case and of the evidence
against each individual prisoner, and the conclusive manner
in which the individual guilt of each prisoner was established,
in which I doubt not any mitigating circumstances which
might differentiate their guilt were considered, has received
careful consideration of His Majesty’s Government.
His Majesty’s Government have at no time had the
intention to interfere with action of the Responsible Govern-
ment of Natal or to control Governor in exercise of preroga-
tive. But your Ministers will, I feel sure, recognize that in
all the circumstances now existing, and in view of the
presence of British troops in the Colony, His Majesty’s
Government are entitled, and were in duty bound, to obtain
full and precise information in reference to these martial
law cases in regard to which an Act of Indemnity has
