§ MR. A. M'ARTHURasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been called to a letter published in the "Daily News" of the 11th instant, headed "Freebooters in Bechuanaland," in which it is alleged that a boundary has been beaconed out by freebooters that would enable them to stop British trade with the natives of the interior; and, if the statement be true, what steps the Government will take to protect British interests?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYWe have no official information of a boundary having been beaconed out by freebooters in Bechuanaland; but it would appear, by looking at the map, that the roads to the interior must pass through the territory which has been lately occupied by them. However, this question of trade concerns more immediately the Cape Government; and we shall await till we hear from them in order to concert with them what action should be taken in view of any stoppage of trade.