§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now inform the House what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take in order to secure redress of the grievances of the Uitlanders of the Transvaal and to maintain British predominance in South Africa.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI must refer my hon. friend to a previous answer to the effect that Her Majesty's Government would wait for the reports of the Conference and for Sir A. Milner's despatches before deciding on the next step in their policy.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean us to understand that the reports and despatches have not yet been received?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThey certainly have not yet been received.
§ MR. LAMBERT (Devonshire, South Molton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state approximately what number of Uitlanders in the South African Republic have the right to exercise the franchise for the first Volksraad now, and what number would have it presuming the conditions were the same as in the Orange Free State; and if he could state what number would receive it within a reasonable time under Sir Alfred Milner's proposals, and how this would compare with the latest proposals of President Kruger.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI am not in a position to give these figures, but I will endeavour to obtain the information.
§ MR. LAMBERTWhen may we expect it?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINWell, I shall have to communicate with Sir A. Milner—perhaps this day week.
§ MR. LAMBERTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies if opportunity has been afforded to any representative of the British Government of 764 authenticating the signatures to the petition expressing confidence in the Transvaal Government, and alleged to have been signed by 23,000 Uitlanders, referred to in No. 88 [C. 9345]; if so, have the signatures been examined, and have they been found to be genuine.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe answer is in the negative.