During the debate on the Colonial Office Vote, which took
place_ in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr. Balfour dealt very strongly, but not more strongly than, in our opinion, the matter deserved, with the failure of the Colonial Office to treat with sufficient severity the case of the head of an East African district who used his official prestige and authority to get possession for immoral purposes of a native girl under sixteen. The girl, it will be remembered, was claimed as his wife or concubine by a policeman, and the official in question actually engaged in a scuffle with his native subordinate for possession of the girl. Mr. Balfour refused to admit that the subsequent issue of a circular threatening serious penalties against officials who might be guilty in the future of similar offences could be considered as in any way adequate action. He insisted, as we have always done, that the essential point was not the question of immoral relations, but the criminal misuse of official power.
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