§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office has received any communications from the Government of the Cape, through the Agent General or otherwise, in reference to the confirmation of, or the continuance of, German influence over the immense territories of Damaraland and Namaqualand lying adjacent to British territory in South Africa, and, if so, whether he will state to the House the purport of such communications; and whether it is true that Kamaherero, the King of the Damaras, is desirious of coming under British protection?
§ BARON H. DE WORMSSome confidential communications have passed with the Cape Ministers on this subject, but it would not be desirable to state the effect of them as negotiations are going on. Kamaherero has, in past years, expressed a desire to come under British protection, but the answer has always been that as Damaraland has been recognised as under German jurisdiction his wish cannot be met.