§ SIR E. ASHMEAD -BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Convention regarding Swaziland, concluded with President Kruger in December last, continues the present tripartite Administration of Swaziland until May; whether, in the event of the Swazis still refusing to place themselves under Boer rule, the Boers will be permitted to use force to conquer Swaziland; and whether Her Majesty's Government intend to prevent the use of force against the Swazis before May next?
§ MR. S. BUXTONThe Convention of 1890, under which the tripartite administration of Swaziland was created, will be superseded if and when the Volksraad ratify the Convention of 1894; or, if previously to such ratification the Swazis agree to sign the Organic Proclamation, the Convention of 1893 will thereupon 565 come into force. If neither of these events occur, the Convention of 1890 will continue in force, subject to termination by a, month's notice on either side. The second part of the hon. Member's question is hypothetical, and I cannot, therefore, answer it. As regards the third part, as long as the Convention of 1890 is in operation the employment of force either by Her Majesty's Government or by that of the South African Republic is regulated by that Convention.