§ MR. A. M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, before the South African Confederation Bill is brought on for Second Reading in this House, he will lay upon the Table any Correspondence which has passed between the Colonial or Foreign Office and the Portuguese Government, or the Governor of the Cape Colony, with reference to Delagoa Bay?
§ MR. J. LOWTHERSir, there has been no correspondence between the British and Portuguese Governments which it would be of advantage to publish subsequent to that presented in 1875 with reference to Delagoa Bay. A few informal communications have, however, passed between the respective Governments, from which there is every reason to believe that the Government of Portugal will continue to be desirous to co-operate in a friendly manner as heretofore with ourselves in securing the welfare and advancement of the adjacent districts of South Africa.