§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the letter from Mr. Merriman, published in the Parliamentary Paper headed "Correspondence relating to the Political Situation in South Africa," was in the hands of Sir Alfred Milner while Mr. Merriman was, as Treasurer of the Cape Colony, one of Sir Alfred Milner's Ministers, and in constant relation with him; whether the letter was shown or mentioned by Sir Alfred Milner to Mr. Merriman; and whether the Colonial Secretary or Sir Alfred Milner asked Mr. Merriman's consent to the publication of that letter, or gave Mr. Merriman any opportunity of making any observations upon it.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.So far as my information goes the answer to the first question is in the affirmative, and to the last two questions in the negative. The letter was in no way discreditable to Mr. Merriman.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)Is it not a fact that Mr. Merriman made a public protest in the Cape Parliament against the publication of this correspondence?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir.