§ MR. O. V. MORGAN (Battersea)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is a fact that a concession has been granted by the Transvaal Government to a Dutch-German Syndicate for a railway from the Portuguese border to Pretoria; whether one of the conditions of the concession is the right to take in goods free of Customs Duty; whether Her Majesty's Government consider such a concession is consistent with the Treaty rights secured to this country; and, whether any Correspondence has taken place between the two Governments regarding the matter; and, if so, when it will be laid upon the Table?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)(who replied) said: The answer to the first two paragraphs of the Question is in the affirmative. Her Majesty's Government have under their consideration the question whether such a concession is consistent with the Treaty rights secured to this country. Correspondence is in progress with the South African Republic on the subject; but no decision can be arrived at as to presenting it to Parliament until it is concluded.