§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the sentences passed at Pretoria upon the Reform Leaders were under the Roman-Dutch Law, which is rarely used in the Transvaal; and, whether the presiding Judge was a non-Transvaal Dutchman appointed for the purpose of this trial?
§ MR. E. H. HULSE (Salisbury)Arising out of that Question, may I ask 218 the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received and can place before the House any intelligence from Pretoria as to whether any alternative sentence has been passed on the Reform Leaders?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINMy answer to my hon. Friend is in the affirmative with regard to both questions. I have private information, but it is not official, that the presiding Judge was borrowed from the Orange Free State; that is name is Gregorowski; and that he is of Polish extraction. With regard to the Question of my hon. Friend behind me, I have to say that I have received confirmation of the statement which was published in all the papers yesterday as to the commutation of the death sentence; and to-day I have received a further telegram, dated April 30th, from Sir Hercules Robinson:—
British Agent in the South African Republic telegraphed yesterday that Executive Council were still deliberating on punishment which was to be substituted for the death penalty, and adds as follows:—'The Transvaal Boers themselves condemn the severity of sentence on the four, as well as the other prisoners, and are actively obtaining signatures to petitions for mitigation of punishment or free pardon.'" [Cheers.]
§ MR. REGINALD McKENNA (Monmouth, N.)asked whether anything was known of the rumour that was current that the four principals had been banished and the remainder released?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have no information on the subject.
§ MR. KNOXasked whether the House was to understand that the right hon. Gentleman gave his approval to the statement in the Question of the hon. Member for Sheffield that the Roman Dutch law was rarely used in the Transvaal?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN"Rarely" is a comparative term, but undoubtedly the Statute law is the law which is ordinarily in application in the Republic. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. DALZIELasked whether the right hon. Gentleman had received any information pointing to the fact that the Orange Free State Judge was selected to preside at the trial as an indication of impartiality and not of corruption—[Laughter.]; and whether the jury was composed of Uitlanders? [Cries of "Order!"]
§ [No answer was given.]
219§ MR. DALZIELsaid that he would repeat the Question To-morrow.