§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the House any further information as to the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the Transvaal, and especially as to the proposed Anglo-Boer Commission for the examination of the new franchise conditions.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.No, Sir, I have received no information.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland)In view of the anxiety prevalent in the country, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he could make any statement with regard to the somewhat serious news as to the present state of negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the South African Republic.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have already stated that I have no official information on the subject. I do not know whether the reports which appear in the newspapers will be confirmed.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cocker mouth)I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the statement published in several newspapers is true that the Government have now ordered several regiments of infantry to prepare at once for embarcation for South Africa, and that this will be a special force and outside the usual drafts.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir, there is some truth in the statement. The Government of Natal made representations to us as to the defenceless state of the colony. We have decided accordingly to send reinforcements for the defence of Natal.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONFor the defence of Natal?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThey are sent out for the defence of Natal and for all contingencies, and at the request of the Government of Natal.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONWho is expected to make the attack?
§ (No answer was given.)