§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If Her Majesty's Government propose to undertake to keep the peace on the western frontier of the Transvaal as a permanent arrangement; and, whether it is true that the Rev. Mr. Mackenzie has been appointed Commissioner in Bechuanaland?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHalso asked, When the Papers will be laid on the Table relating to the negotiations with the Transvaal Delegates and the Convention; and, whether the Under Secretary of State can give any explanation why the full text of that Convention has to-day appeared in the public papers before it has been placed in the hands of Members?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYSir, my hon. Friend (Sir George Campbell), in 79 the first part of his Question, asks me to undertake the office of a prophet, for which I do not feel myself qualified. All I can say is that there is nothing inherently temporary in the arrangements which have been made. In reply to the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), I beg to say the Convention has been laid on the Table to-day, and in two or three days the Papers connected with it will also be laid on the Table. I can give no information as to how the Convention appeared in The Times. The reply to the second part of my hon. Friend (Sir George Campbell's) Question would be in the affirmative; but, in view of the interest this appointment may excite in South Africa, I might be, perhaps, allowed to add that Mr. Mackenzie, with a complete knowledge of Dutch and Bechuana, has an intimate acquaintance with the district and its inhabitants, and will have great influence over the Natives in keeping them from acts of unrest or aggression. He has always been personally on good terms with the Dutch of the Transvaal and its Borders, and I am informed by Sir Hercules Robinson that for many years he has been chosen as arbiter in numerous disputes between Boers and Natives. He therefore seems eminently fitted to gain the confidence of both sides.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHgave Notice that to-morrow he would ask the Prime Minister, Whether, in view of the repeated instances of the appearance of official documents in newspapers before their distribution among Members, he would give directions that some effectual steps should be taken by the Heads of the various Departments in future to prevent the recurrence of this circumstance?