§ MR. W. H. JAMESasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is the fact that in April 1878 William Kok, son of the Chief Adam Kok, was arrested, and together with the 137 other Griquas imprisoned at Cape Town; whether during that interval they have never been brought before any judicial tribunal, and the nature of their offence kept both from them and their friends; whether these persons are British subjects; whether they have given repeated assurances of their loyalty; and whether, when they are brought to trial, any compensation will be afforded to 970 them for their imprisonment during this lengthy period, and for the property confiscated from them at the time of their arrest?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I believe that about the number of Griquas stated by the hon. Member have been for some time imprisoned at Cape Town, and I have not heard that they have been brought before any judicial tribunal. But their offence is perfectly well known to themselves and to others, as it consisted in a movement to drive the White inhabitants and the Government authorities out of Griqualand East, culminating in the open levying of war against the Queen. I cannot say what their precise legal position may be; but they appear to have been detained and treated as prisoners of war. From the nature of their offence, expressions of loyalty must be accepted with great reserve. Nor would any compensation for their detention appear to be due to them. The length of their detention is, I presume, due to the disturbed state, at first of Pondoland and Griqualand East, and subsequently of Basutoland, which may naturally have disposed the authorities to consider that the time had not arrived when they could safely be allowed to return to their country.
§ MR. W. H. JAMESWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say why these persons have not been brought to trial?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHI have already stated that they have been detained and treated as prisoners of war.