§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, (1) whether, by the Convention of 18th December, 1894, with the Transvaal, Her Majesty's Government have agreed that the Government of the South African Republic shall have and be secured in all rights and powers of protection, legislation, jurisdiction, and administration over Swaziland and the inhabitants thereof; (2) whether the Swazi Government and people were 766 parties to that Convention, or were invited to take part in it; and (3), whether he will explain by what right, legal or moral, the British Government can thus dispose of the independence of a free people?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONAs regards the first question, the hon. Member will find the terms of the Convention of 1894 in the new blue book already circulated. The answer to the second is in the negative. As regards the third question, I endeavoured, in the Debate on the Address, to explain to the House the position of affairs and how it had arisen, and, for answer, I must, without admitting the assumption contained in the question, refer the hon. Gentleman to my speech on that occasion.
§ MR. T. H. COCHRANE (Ayrshire, N.)asked if there was any information that the Boer troops were assembled on the borders of Swaziland?
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONthought there were troops there under General Joubert.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked, whether the Government had given their consent to the military occupation of Swaziland by the Boers or the armed invasion of the country by the Boers.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThat question has not arisen ("Oh.").