HC Deb 07 March 1895 vol 31 cc534-5
MR. H. O. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the month of January last, a Boer field cornet, of the name of Bodenstein, expelled the representatives of the trading firm of Messrs. E. Harvey from the town of Krugersdorp; whether the ground of such expulsion was stated to be that the persons expelled were Asiatics; whether the persons expelled were British subjects; and whether the law of the Boer Republic permits the forcible expulsion of British subjects on no other ground than that of their nationality?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

We have not received any information nor complaint in regard to the subject of the alleged expulsion of the representatives of Messrs. Harvey and Co. from Krudersdorp.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

May I ask whether the hon. Member will answer the last portion of my question?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I have said that we have received no information or complaint. If we receive any complaint we will carefully look into it.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Does the Boer law permit of acts of this kind?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

I am afraid I cannot say, but an arbitration is just about to proceed, and we shall probably receive more information in regard to the subject.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Will the hon. Gentleman make inquiry into the matter?

MR. SYDNEY BUXTON

If we receive a definite complaint, of course inquiry will be made.