§ SIR FREDERICK MILNERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, If he is aware that full and complete details of the murder of Mr. Christopher Bethell appeared in The Kimberley Independent of 9th August; if he is able to explain how it happened that these details were not received at the Colonial Office before 23rd October; whether, on receipt of Commander Bethell's letter of 22nd August, asking for the particulars of the murder of his brother, the Colonial Office cabled to Sir Hercules Robinson, or if they only wrote by post; whether the Government have instructed Sir Hercules Robinson to cable back the steps he thinks necessary to take for the arrest of the murderers of Mr. Bethell, and when we may expect to hear what has been decided on; and, if he can explain how it was that the letter from Mr. Assistant Commissioner Wright (No. 98), written to Mr. William Bethell, of Rise, and which was received at the Colonial Office on 23rd October, was not delivered to Mr. Bethell till 29th October, the day on which the South African Debate took place, notwithstanding the fact that the particulars contained in that letter must necessarily have been of great service to those who were introducing the case of Mr. Bethell?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIn reply to the first Question, I have to say there is no mention in the newspaper referred to of the names of the murderers, or any evidence to prove their identity, two points which I have already several times said are obviously necessary elements on 1115 which to base any steps for their punishment. The first and only communication which gave those details was, as I have already said, Sir. Wright's despatch. In reply to the third Question, the Colonial Office did not cable—only sent a despatch. In reply to the fourth Question, we have received a telegram from Sir Hercules Robinson, who had consulted his Attorney General, and we I are submitting the question to our own Law Officers to see if we can meet the legal difficulties which the High Commissioner brings before us. I shall be glad to show that telegram to the hon. Member privately; but I think he will understand that to make it public until we are able to say what course we have decided on would be very inconvenient. As to the last Question, I find, on inquiry at the Department, that the explanation of the delay of four days, one of which was a Sunday, in sending to Mr. William Bethell the letter referred to is the oversight of a clerk in the Department, caused by the pressure of getting the Papers prepared for Parliament, including this one, which was the very last received. I must be allowed very strongly to repudiate the insinuation contained in the latter part of the Question.