§ MR. R. T. REIDasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention has been drawn to the following paragraph, appearing in The Standard of the 11th July:—
The Basutos have attacked and burned Thaban-Chu, which was a mission station within the borders of the Free State;whether the statement is true, and whether it is not the fact that the British Resident in Basutoland has no means at his disposal of preventing such attacks by British subjects on a friendly State; and, whether the President of the Orange Free State has repeatedly warned Her Majesty's Government of the likelihood of such occurrences, and protested against the insecurity in which the frontier is left?
§ MR. EVELYN ASHLEYMy hon. Friend's Question seems to imply an at- 918 tack by Basutos invading the Orange Free State from British territory. I think he will find on further inquiry that it is a case of inter-tribal quarrel within the Free State. As to the second Question, the British Resident has a police force with which to maintain order; and though the President of the Orange Free State has, from time to time, made representations to Her Majesty's Government, there is no reason to believe that he complains of the manner in which Her Majesty's Government are carrying out the obligations devolving on them.