§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether 288 Her Majesty's Government have addressed any remonstrance to the Boer Government against the repressive legislation passed by the Volksraad since August last, viz., against the Aliens Expulsion Law, the Press Law, and the Aliens Immigration Law; whether these laws constitute a breach of the Convention of 1884; and, whether the text of such protests and the replies of the Boer Government can be laid before Parliament.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINHer Majesty's Government have been in communication with the South African Republic with regard to its recent legislation, but the correspondence is still incomplete. When it is terminated I propose to lay the papers before Parliament, but until that time arrives I am unable to make any further statement.