§ MR. ERNEST BECKETT (York, N.R., Whitby)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, since negotiations with Germany respecting the delimitation of frontiers and spheres of influence have been open, the Germans have pushed forward their agents and emissaries into regions to the North and rear of the territory belonging to the South African Company; whether Germany is bound by the Treaty of 1886, and by the pledges given by Prince Bismarck to Sir E. Malet in 1887 not to occupy or permit operations in these regions; and whether the Government will make it a condition of resuming negotiations that the status quo shall be strictly maintained, and that no advance on one side or the other shall be sanctioned or recognised while negotiations are going on?
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONWe have no information of any German expeditions to the North and rear of territory belonging to the South African Company. The engagements of 1886 and 1887, which have been, and are, respected by the Germans, related to territories in which the British and German East African Companies were interested. It is understood between the two Governments that, while negotiations are pending, the status quo shall, as far as possible, be maintained as regards territories under discussion.