HC Deb 28 January 1897 vol 45 cc686-7
SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)

had given notice of the following Question:— To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a speech made by Sir James Sivewright, a Cape Minister, at Worcester, in which Sir J. Sivewright stated that emissaries from the Transvaal had been deliberately stirring up disloyalty in Cape Colony; and whether Her Majesty's Government have any evidence in proof of this charge; and, if so, what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take? The hon. Member said that since the Question was put on the paper he had seen a statement that Sir James Sivewright had given a different version of his speech from that given in the papers at first.

MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN

I presume, therefore, that the hon. Member does not now put his Question. [Laughter.]

MR. LEONARD COURTNEY (Cornwall, Bodmin)

I should like to put the Question. ["Hear, hear!"] Is my right hon. Friend prepared to make any statement as to the accuracy or inaccuracy of the statement referred to?

MR. J. CHAMBERLATN

The hon. Member has already said that Sir James Sivewright has himself apparently contradicted the accuracy of the statement imputed to him. Under these circumstances I cannot possibly give an opinion as to what might hypothetically have been said by Sir James Sivewright, but what Sir James Sivewright himself said he did not say. [Laughter.]