§ MR. ELLIS GRIFFITH (Anglesey)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether his attention has been called to the fact that Chief Justice Kotze was, in the course of his judicial duties, interfered with and intimidated by President Kruger, and that Chief Justice Kotze has made a sworn declaration to this effect; and (2) whether the suzerainty power of this country enables the Secretary of State for the Colonies to take steps to secure the independence of the High Court and the impartial administration of justice in the Transvaal?
§ MR. PICKERSGILLBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether it is correct to say, as is done in the first paragraph of the Question, 1488 that the Chief Justice was interfered with in the course of his official duties? Is not that assumption rather than fact?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIESI am not responsible for the statements in the Question. My answer is that I have seen the statement to which the hon. Member refers. I must decline, as I stated in reply to a similar Question on the 11th instant, to express any opinion at present in regard to the case.