§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether, before the House rises for the Easter Recess, he will be prepared to make a Statement relative to the condition of the Transvaal territory and South African affairs generally, especially with reference to the military operations being now carried on?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, the purport of the information which I am able to give to the House on this subject maybe comprised in a few words; and therefore, with the permission of the House, I will reply to the right hon. Member's Question now. As he surmises, the attention of the Cape and Transvaal Governments continues to be almost entirely occupied with the military operations for the suppression of the Kaffir outbreak and the threatening attitude of the Zulus and other Natives on the Transvaal frontier. The detailed accounts which we receive from time to time of the conduct of the Imperial military operations continue to be satisfactory, though I fear that a longer time may elapse before the final suppression of the outbreak than appeared probable a few weeks ago. General Thesiger has assumed the command, and the Imperial and Colonial Forces are working together in complete harmony under his direction. I am happy to add that we have no confirmation whatever of the alarming reports that were current last 1368 week of great losses sustained by the Imperial troops and the death of one or more distinguished officers. Such reports are often entirely without foundation, and, as an instance of this, I may refer to a telegram from Sir Bartle Frere, read last night by my noble Friend the Under Secretary, in "another place," from which it appears that an officer of Engineers, who had been reported killed in action the week before, had quite recovered from his accident. With regard to the Transvaal, our intelligence is less satisfactory. The negotiations in progress for the settlement of the boundary difficulty with the Zulus have partly relieved us from apprehension in that quarter, and may, I hope, lead to a settlement of the question without resort to force. But we have reports of a Native outbreak in another direction, which I understand has been suppressed; and there is much that is not satisfactory in the attitude of a portion of the Boer population. Sir Theophilus Shepstone has asked for reinforcements, and I understand from a telegram from Sir Bartle Frere that these reinforcements will be despatched as soon as possible. Yesterday I laid a further instalment of Papers on this subject before the House, and these will be in the hands of hon. Members during the Recess.
§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENasked, What was the date of the latest news which had been received, and whether Parliament, on re-assembling, would be put in possession of the latest information then in the hands of the Government?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he would take care to put the House in possession of the latest information. The latest despatch from the Transvaal was dated February 21, and the latest telegram from Sir Bartle Frere March 26.