§ MR. J. M. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies—(1) whether the two Reformers, Mr. Sampson and Mr. Davies, who refused to sign a petition for pardon, are still kept in prison at Pretoria; (2) whether they have sent a memorial to the British Agent at 1448 Pretoria, asserting that they laid down their arms under the promise of British protection; and, (3) whether any steps have been taken by the representatives of Her Majesty's Government in South Africa to obtain the release of these prisoners?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.The two gentlemen referred to in the first paragraph of the Question are in the Pretoria prison, where they state that they are treated with every consideration and that the accommodation is now excellent. [Laughter.] I have received the memorial referred to in the second paragraph of the Question, in which these gentlemen state that they (meaning the Reform Committee of Johannesburg) laid down their arms under the promise of British protection. This assertion is contradicted by the High Commissioner and Sir Jacobus de Wet. In reply to the last paragraph of the Question, I have to say that, on first hearing of their refusal to join with the other Reform prisoners in petitioning for clemency, I advised them by telegraph that they would be acting not inconsistently with their own dignity and for the general good if they signed a petition to the Government of the South African Republic like their companions. I have since repeated this intimation, and beyond this I am unable to go.
§ MR. MACLEANCould not the right hon. Gentleman make an appeal to the magnanimity of President Kruger to release the two men who seem to be the best of the whole lot. [Laughter.]
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI do not know anything about that, but it seems to me that it would be quite impossible for me to make such an appeal when the gentlemen themselves refuse to sign any petition. There was no reason I am aware of why they should not have joined with their fellow prisoners when the petition was originally presented to the Government. If they had, they would no doubt have been dealt with with equal clemency.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)Is it not the fact that Sir Jacobus de Wet promised them protection on the 9th of January, when the people of Johannesburg were invited to lay down their arms?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINSir Jacobus de Wet most distinctly repudiates any such statement, and it is clear he could not have made such a statement, inasmuch as when persons start an insurrection in a foreign State they must be prepared for the consequences. [Cheers.] The Government whose subjects they are can only interfere to secure for them a fair trial and equal treatment.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWas not the insurrection started against what the right hon. Gentleman himself describes as a bad and corrupt Government?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!