§ MR. MACLEANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps he has taken during the Recess to obtain the release of Mr. Davis and Mr. Sampson, the two Johannesburg Reformers, who are still kept in prison at Pretoria?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.I stated in answer to similar questions last Session that I had informed Messrs. Sampson and Davis that if they would approach the Government of the South African Pie-public as was done by the other Reformers who were tried on the same charge and received the same sentence, I should be glad to support their petition. I am sorry to say that Messrs. Sampson and Davis have hitherto declined to take this course, and I do not feel justified in making an appeal on their behalf which they refuse to make for themselves. I think I may be allowed to add that in my judgment these gentlemen have already suffered very severely for any error they may have committed, and I think it would be good policy on the part of President Kruger to take their case into consideration.
§ MR. MACLEANWill the right hon. Gentleman commend to President Kruger the example set by King Menelik, of Abyssinia, in releasing the Italians? [Laughter.]
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Do I understand that these men can get out at once if they would go through the formality of giving an undertaking to be of good behaviour in the future?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI cannot answer that question positively, but the other gentlemen who did make an appeal were released. ["Hear, hear!"]