§ MR. W. E. FORSTERasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is aware that the marauding Transvaal Boers, who, assisted by deserters from the British Army, have for some time past invaded the territories of Mankaroane and other Bechuana Chiefs, have now established a quasi authority in South Bechuana Land, which is amenable to no civilized Government; whether he has received information that these Boers have recently made demands on Mankaroane for the cession to them of a large part of his territory; and, what steps, if any, are being taken, by either Her Majesty's Government or by the authorities of the Cape Colony, to restrain these elements of disorder on the British frontier?
§ MR. H. LEEasked the hon. Gentleman, Whether the Government has been informed that a considerable number of deserters from Her Majesty's Army have assembled in Bechuana Land, and are acting with the Transvaal Boers in their hostile movements; and, if so, whether any steps have been taken to bring these offenders to justice, and to protect the Native Chiefs in their exercise of their territorial rights?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYThe Papers which I laid on the Table of the House nearly 10 days ago, and which I had hoped would have been before this in the hands of Members, will give the latest information which the Colonial Office has received. We have no information as to the establishment of a new authority in Bechuana Land; and the demands made on Mankaroane for cession 380 of territory have nominally up to this time only been cession to the Natives warring against him. I have already informed the House on two occasions of the proposals which Her Majesty's Government made for a joint mounted force of Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Cape police, to capture these marauders and adventurers, which have at present fallen through, owing to the Orange Free State and the Transvaal having refused to join, and Her Majesty's Government is not prepared to go beyond these proposals.