§ COMMANDER BETHELL (York, E. R., Holderness)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Dinizulu, Tchingaan, and others have yet been released?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. SYDNEY BUXTON,) Tower Hamlets, PoplarNo, Sir, they have not yet been released.
§ COMMANDER BETHELLreminded the hon. Member that two and a-half years had elapsed since the present Government undertook to favourably consider the release.
§ Mr. BUXTONreplied that arrangements were made for the return of the chiefs to the interior, but the Natal Government unfortunately objected, on the ground that Zululand should first be incorporated with Natal before the release took place. The British Government did not consider the present time opportune to attach Zululand to Natal. Unquestionably, Zululand would be attached to Natal when it ceased to be a Crown colony. Under the circumstances, the chiefs were not being allowed to return.