§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether the Transvaal Government has suppressed the Uitlander newspaper, the Star of Johannesburg, and, if so, on what ground this action has been taken; (2) whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any steps with regard to the suppression of the Johannesbury Critic in December 1896: and (3) whether the 60,000 Uitlanders of Johannesburg, who are denied both the right of voting and of public meeting, are, by the suppression of these papers, prevented from making public their grievances?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have received through the High Commissioner a telegram from the British Agent at Pretoria, stating that the "Johannesburg Star newspaper has been suppressed for three months on the ground of being dangerous to public peace;" and a further telegram from the High Commissioner stating that the proprietors of the newspapers will bring the action of the Government of the South African Republic under the review of the High Court of judicature. Her Majesty's Government are in communication with the Government of the South African Republic with regard to the suppression of the Critic. In regard to the third 1557 question, I can only say that, by the suppression of these papers, the Uitlanders have been deprived of their two principal organs of the Press.