§ BARON HENRY DE WORMSasked the Under Secretary of State for the 607 Colonies, Whether the Cape Government have entered into any engagement with the Imperial Government to pay any, and, if so, what portion of the expenditure now being incurred for the Expedition to Bechuanaland; and, whether there is any truth in the report that the Representative Ministers of the Cape Government have entered into an arrangement for settling the difficulty; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government intend to ratify it?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he should like to ask whether Her Majesty's Government had received any information as to the very contradictory rumours from South Africa—namely, on the one hand, that an arrangement had been entered into between the Cape Government and the Freebooters, which had been referred to Her Majesty's Government and declined by them; and, on the other hand, that Mr. Upington, the Premier of the Cape Colony, had addressed a most extraordinary speech to the Freebooters?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYIn reply to the hon. Member for Greenwich (Baron Henry De Worms), I have to say that the Cape Colony will not be expected to pay any portion of the expenditure directly connected with Sir Charles Warren's Expedition. In reply to the second Question, the Cape Ministers who proceeded to Bechuanaland have reported by telegraph certain conditions on which they will be able, they say, to settle the present difficulties. Those conditions, as a whole, could not be accepted as at present understood by Her Majesty's Government; and Her Majesty's Government will require further explanations; but they do not expect to be able to arrive at any conclusions until after Sir Charles Warren has arrived in Bechuanaland. That will answer the first portion of the right hon. Baronet's Question also. As to the second portion of the right hon. Baronet's Question, I have to state that we have received no information about the speech of Mr. Upington; and in a telegraphic message received to-day from Sir Hercules Robinson about other matters he does not allude to it; but we have sent a telegram to the High Commissioner, asking him what is the truth of the matter about that speech.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHWill the hon. Gentleman communicate 608 any reply that may be received in reference to this subject before the House adjourns for the Recess?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYYes, Sir; to-morrow, if received in time.