§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether three British subjects are imprisoned in Namaqualand by the German authorities under a German military law, and whether he can state the circumstances connected with their imprisonment, and the view taken of it by Her Majesty's Government? And whether any attempt has been made to secure the release of the two Messrs. Duncan and of Mr. McKemmie?
§ *SIR E. GREYTwo British subjects, Messrs. Duncan and McKemmie, were arrested in June 1894, and a third, Mr. Duncan, jun., in November 1894, by the German authorities in South-west Africa, on a charge of having smuggled arms and ammunition across the German frontier for the use of Headrik Witbooi. Mr. Duncan, junr., has since been released. The papers in Duncan senior's and McKemmie's case are stated to have been sent to the Supreme Court at Windkock by the local judge at the end of last year for final decision. The case has been represented to the German Government with reference to the length of time during which these men appear to have been kept in confinement without being brought to trial, and we have asked for information as to the result of the trial.