§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether Her Majesty's Government have yet received the details of the compensation demanded by the Transvaal Government for the Raid; and (2) whether any, and, if so, what, reply has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Boer demand?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Since the hon. Gentleman put the Question on the Paper—in fact, this morning—I have seen a dispatch from Her Majesty's agent in the Transvaal containing particulars of the demand on the part of the Transvaal Government. I have already promised to lay it upon the Table as soon as it arrives, 1035 and I propose to do so immediately. In answer to the second Question, my hon. Friend will see that it is premature in any case to ask whether a reply has been sent to a demand which has only arrived to-day. But I must also point out to him that that demand will have to be forwarded for consideration and remarks to the Chartered Company; further, that it will have to be subjected to legal investigation and will have to be considered by myself and Her Majesty's Government, and it will then be the subject of communications, which may be prolonged, with the Transvaal Government. [Laughter.] Under the circumstances I must deprecate any further questions upon the subject, because until that process has been gone through and exhausted it will be quite impossible for me to give any information. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will not think it an excessive demand if I ask him whether he can tell us if the demand of the Transvaal Government is for £1,600,000 or for £1,000,000?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have already answered that question. It is for £1,677,000, odd shillings and pence. [Laughter.]