§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take in order to put an end to the increasing danger to the public peace, and to the general commercial interest, caused by the refusal by the Boer Government of personal liberty and political rights to the Uitlanders of the Transvaal, who number over two-thirds of the white population.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have already stated that Sir A. Milner has been instructed to have the despatch of Her Majesty's Government written in reply to the petition from British subjects in the Transvaal communicated to the Government of the South African Republic, and 1062 a Blue Book containing this despatch and other papers will be laid on the Table today. Her Majesty's Government will wait for the despatches from the High Commissioner with full reports of the Conference before sending further instructions.
§ Mr. C. P. SCOTT (Lancashire, Leigh)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the shortest time within which a foreigner coming to this country can actually exercise the franchise; and how this period compares with that proposed by Mr. Kruger for conferring the franchise on Uitlanders.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN saidA foreigner coming to this country can be naturalised after five years' residence in the United Kingdom. After naturalisation, if otherwise qualified, he can be registered and can exercise the franchise from the 1st of January after he is registered. If he completes the five years' residence and is naturalised just before the last day for sending in claims for registration, he can actually exercise the franchise within five years and about five months after coming to this country. The period within which it is proposed by President Kruger that a foreigner coming into the Transvaal may obtain the franchise appears to be seven years, namely two years before naturalisation and five years after naturalisation. But the proposal is only partially retro-active and foreigners who have lived in the Transvaal from before 1890 would still have to wait two-and-a-half years before obtaining the franchise, and foreigners whose residence began in or after 1890, and who have resided for two years or more, would have to wait five years.
MR. SWIFT MAC NEILL (Donegal, S.)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in this country a certificate from the Secretary of State is necessary for legalising naturalisation, and the Secretary of State can withhold it at his discretion, without right of appeal, even if all other requirements are satisfied?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have seen a statement to that effect in the papers. If the hon. Gentleman wants accurate information, however, as to the process of naturalisation, he had better apply to the Home Secretary.