§ MR. MILLERsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Is there any truth in the report contained in the daily press that the Government have extended British protection to the Basuto Country, adjoining the Cape of Good Hope and Natal; is it intended to annex this Territory; and, if so, is it to be annexed to the Colony of the Cape or Natal; and is there any objection to place the Correspondence relating to the subject upon the table of the House?
§ MR. ADDERLEYsaid, in reply, that the Government had certainly not extended British protection over the Basuto territory; but they had authorized the Colonial Authorities, on the repeated request of the Basutos, to negotiate for the annexation of the territory to the Colony of Natal, upon condition that Natal was willing to undertake the government of that extended territory, and that the Basuto tribes were willing to submit to such taxation, that the annexation would not entail expense upon the Natal Government. The Orange Free State would be a party to that transaction; the chief object being to define the boundary between the Basuto territory and the Orange Free State, and thus to put a stop to those wars from which the Colony had never been free, and which entailed perpetual cost and disturbance on its Government and relations. This additional advantage would be gained—that Natal would be brought out of its present isolated state, and connected with the other British possessions in South Africa. As soon as the Correspondence was completed—which it would be by a despatch now expected—it will be laid on the table.