§ MR. BRYCEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now give the House any further information regarding the recent reported affray near Mutaca's Kraal, in South-East Africa, between the police employed by the British South Africa Company and the Portuguese; and if he can make any statement as to the progress of negotiations with Portugal, regarding her relations to Great Britain, of the two countries in South-East Africa, and the means to re taken for averting disputes and collisions between the subjects of the two Governments?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONNo information has been received from the Cape except the telegram already quoted. Portuguese reports give a different version, stating that the British were the aggressors; but we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of the statements forwarded by the High Commissioner. The latest step in the negotiations is the conclusion of the modus vivendi. The necessity of observing this has been strongly impressed on the South Africa Company, and it is understood that the Portuguese Government is equally anxious to secure its observance. It is hoped that there will be no more collisions between the employés of the rival companies, but they are beyond the immediate control of the Governments.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONI cannot say when the Papers will be produced, as it is manifest that the Government must wait until the Despatches arrive before laying the Papers upon the Table.
§ MR. BUCHANANWill the Papers referring to the modus vivendi be laid upon the Table?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONNo doubt those Papers will be presented.