§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether correspondence has passed between himself and the two imprisoned reform leaders still in Pretoria Gaol; and, if so, whether he will lay that correspondence upon the Table of the House?
§ MR. J. M. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has placed himself in direct communication, through the British Agent at Pretoria, with the two British subjects detained there as political prisoners; whether he has ascertained that these two gentlemen refused to make an appeal for pardon to President Kruger because they believed they were promised when they laid down their arms that the Imperial Government would protect them from harm; whether he has informed them that the Imperial Government repudiates any responsibility 1297 on their behalf, and regards their surrender as unconditional; and whether he can state the substance of any correspondence that has passed on the subject?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI will lay the correspondence mentioned by the hon. Member on the Table of the House.