§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the despatches from Sir A. Milner, giving an account of the conference at Bloemfontein, have been received, and when they will be laid upon the Table of the House.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe despatch has been received, but Sir A. Milner states that the notes of the Conference which he transmits are not finally settled, as he was waiting to receive any comments which the Government of the South African Republic might desire to make on them. On the receipt of any corrections of the notes or on information that they require no correction, the despatch and its enclosures can be laid on the Table if desired, but I imagine that the House will probably think that it is not desirable in the present state of the proceedings.
§ MR. DILLONIs it not a fact that the Dutch version of the proceedings of the conference, which, I understand, was verbatim the same as the English version, was published in Pretoria three weeks ago? Surely the information given at Pretoria three weeks ago ought to be given now in the House of Commons?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware whether that is so or not. At any rate the facts are as I stated. Sir Alfred Milner has informed me that he has submitted his notes for correction to the Government of the South African Republic, and I should not like in any case to take the responsibility of publishing them until the answer has been received from the Government of the South African Republic. And I have further stated that, in the present state of matters, while negotiations are still proceeding, although they are not official negotiations, and until the result of those negotiations is known, I do not myself propose, unless I am pressed by hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite, to publish any further Papers.
§ MR. DILLONAs I take a very strong view of this subject, I will repeat this question in a week, trusting that the right hon. Gentleman will have received by that time——[Cries of "Order."]
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)On a point of order, Sir, is the hon. Member entitled to give his reasons?
§ MR. DILLONI am not giving reasons.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not entitled to do more—and that only by the courtesy of the House—than to give notice that he will repeat his question.
§ MR. DILLONI was not going to give reasons. I was only going to state in a sentence the reason why——[Cries of "Order."]
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member will see that it is impossible for hon. Members to go into the reasons which lead them to put down their questions.
§ MR. DILLONThen I will simply say that I shall repeat my question on this day week.