§ SIR G. BADEN-POWELL (Liverpool, Kirkdale)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the terms of the arrangements for the annexation of Pondoland are finally settled; whether the territories held by the Chief Sigcan are to be annexed to the Colony of Natal; and whether any direct local responsibilities are left to the Imperial Government, or whether the whole of the duties of government are relegated to the Responsible Governments of the Cape Colony and Natal?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe Chiefs of East and West Pondoland have just signed a deed making a cession of the whole of their country, and Sir Henry Loch has issued a Proclamation accepting the cession and declaring the country British territory. No official information has been received as to details. It was laid down by Her Majesty's late Government in 1886, and again in 1888 (see Blue Books 5022 and 5410), that 690 Pondoland could not be united with Natal except with the concurrence of the Cape Government, and I have no information showing that such consent is likely to be obtained. It is not contemplated that the Imperial Government should bear any responsibility for the administration of Pondoland; but that, as in the case of all the other Transkei districts, the responsibility should be borne by the Cape Colony.