§ SIR HENRY TYLERasked the First Lord of the Treasury, to be so good as to furnish the House with the latest information he possesses in regard to the Convention signed with the hostile Boers in the Transvaal; and also to state in particular, what guarantee or security is afforded for the carrying out of the stipulations made on behalf of the Boers; by what tribunal the damages occasioned by the action of the Boers will be assessed, and what security there is for their payment; and where it is intended that the British Resident for the Transvaal will reside, what will be his duties, and how he will, in the event of his becoming unpopular, be protected?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the Convention with the Boer Leaders has not been signed; but it is on its way to signature, and, so far as I know, substantial arrange- 695 ments for that purpose have been made. The Convention will probably be signed within a few days, and it will be laid upon the Table as soon as the Government are in possession of it in a complete form. It will have to be ratified, in order to make it binding, by the Volksraad or Court of Assembly on the part of the people, which will at once be elected, and every security will be taken to make the Convention completely binding on the great mass of the people. The compensation referred to in the hon. Member's Question will be assessed by a sub-Commission, consisting of the British Resident and two Judges of the Transvaal Supreme Court; or, failing the Judges, by two other persons, who will be appointed by Her Majesty's High Commissioner. With respect to the last branch of the Question, I have to say that the British Resident will reside at Pretoria, or, from time to time, at any other convenient place, and his functions will be defined by the High Commissioner. That being so, it is better that I should not attempt to give an account of them verbally, more especially as I hope the Papers will soon be in the hands of hon. Members. With regard to the security of the British Resident, the Government have no more doubt upon that point than they have as to the security of any British Consul or Ambassador to any foreign country, and no special arrangements for his protection are contemplated.