§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether any steps are contemplated to learn from Mr. Rhodes whether he still adheres to his statement that he had no knowledge of Dr. Jameson's raid before it took place; whether the Government has discovered when the letter alleged to have been addressed by leading inhabitants of Johannesburg to Dr. Jameson, asking for assistance in the event of trouble and stating that large numbers of women and children would be unprotected, came into possession of Dr. Jameson; whether it had been seen by Mr. Rhodes or any of the officials of the 1139 Chartered Company, either here or in England, before it was read by Dr. Jameson to the forces assembled at Mafeking, just before crossing the frontier; and, by what means and through whom a copy reached The Times in time to be published by that journal on the day after the frontier was crossed.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINAs I have already informed the House, I have had no communication with Mr. Rhodes since he left England, but I may observe that, as the various points raised in the hon. Member's question touch on questions which are at present the subject of inquiry in a court of law, I must, under the rules which the Attorney General has laid down, respectfully decline to answer them.