§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Tower Hamlets, Bow, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether his attention had been called to the public declaration of one of the Ministers of Cape Colony, that—
The Capo Government would annex Bechu-analand in spite of Montsioa's protests, and notwithstanding the contrary statements of Her Majesty's Ministers;and, whether, in view of the anxiety caused among the Chiefs and people of that territory, any steps have been taken by Her Majesty's High Commissioner in South Africa to make known to them the determination of Her Majesty's Ministers to retain in the hands of the Imperial Government the administration of Bechuanaland, as expressed in the speech of the First Lord of the Treasury, at Gloucester, on the 8th of October last?
§ MR. A. M'ARTHUR (Leicester)also asked, Whether, considering the perturbed condition of the people of Bechuanaland, owing to a recent statement made by a Minister of the Cape Colony, the Secretary of State for the Colonies has taken any steps, in accordance with recent expressions of Ministerial policy, to assure the inhabitants of Bechuanaland that Her Majesty's Government has no intention of annexing Bechuanaland to the Cape Government?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)590 The Secretary of State is not aware that the words quoted are a correct report of any statement by one of the Cape Ministers. As Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that there is at present no anxiety in British Bechuanaland on the subject, they have not thought it necessary to make any declaration in the territory.