§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any information regarding the state of affairs in Swaziland, especially as to the entry of armed Boer forces into the country?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESThe High Commissioner for South Africa reported by telegrams of the 21st and 22nd instant that about 1,300 armed Volunteers from the Transvaal with two quick-firing guns, field telegraph and ambulance were on their way to Bremersdorp; that the paramount chief of Swaziland was at his mountain kraal with probably about 1,000 followers; that Bremersdorp had been put into a state of defence but that no acts of hostility had been committed on either side.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTCan the right honourable Gentleman say whether Her Majesty's Government will take some steps to prevent the Swazis, who have been our allies on two occasions, from being destroyed by the invading Boer forces.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESThe relations between Swaziland and the Transvaal are settled by the Convention, and Her Majesty's Government intend that the Convention shall be observed.