§ MR. OTWAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether any application has been made by the Colonial authorities in South Africa to the Government of the Orange Free State for aid in the war against the Zulus; and, if so, whether it is true, as reported, that such aid has been refused?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHSir, I have not received any information which would enable me to say whether any, or what, application has been made to the Orange Free State. But I think it not unlikely that, if such an application has been made, the President of the Free State has not felt himself able to comply with it. The State is neither rich nor powerful, and it borders on Basutoland, which is reported as disturbed.