§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether Her Majesty's Government, before concluding peace with the Boers, took any, and, if so, what, steps to ascertain from the Local Government in the Transvaal what the conduct of the Boers was in the outlying districts, and the true facts of the case; whether Sir Owen Lanyon was consulted as to the advisability of making peace, and generally as to the proposed terms, either before or during the progress of the negotiations; whether Sir Owen Lanyon has already been relieved of his functions; whether any Despatches have passed between Sir Owen Lanyon and Her Majesty's Government; and, whether Her Majesty's Government will, prior to the Debate on the affairs in the Transvaal, place them in their entirety upon the Table of the House?
MR. GRANT DUFFSir, when the hon. Member put down the first part of his Question, I think it had escaped his recollection that from nearly the commencement of the outbreak until tins conclusion of peace communications between Her Majesty's Government and the Local Government of the Transvaal were interrupted by armed force. He must also have forgotten that the Local Government of the Transvaal was during the war shut up in Pretoria, and quite unable to obtain authentic information about the "conduct of the Boers in outlying districts, or the true facts of the case." As to the second part, I have to say that Sir Owen Lanyon was not, and in the nature of things could not have been, consulted. As to the third part, 1880 I mentioned some time ago that Sir Owen Lanyon had received leave of absence. He is now on his way to Europe, but was, when we last heard of him, in Newcastle, ready to reply to any questions the Commissioners might wish to put. As to the fourth and fifth parts, I have to say that we have given most of Sir Owen Lanyon's despatches, and will consider if there are any others which we can give before the debate comes on.