MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Sir Alfred Milner issued on 26th January a proclamation to the effect that Her Majesty's Government will not recognise as valid any forfeiture, fine, or encumbrance on property in the Transvaal or the Orange Free State subsequent to 10th October, the date of the commencement of the war; if so, was the proclamation issued after consultation with and by direction of Her Majesty's Government; does this proclamation refer to all property whatever, or to the property of British subjects alone; can he explain the purpose and scope of the proclamation; and will he lay a copy of it upon the Table of the House.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first and second questions is, yes; to the third it is, not only the property of British subjects; and to the fourth, it has been apprehended that after confiscating property, which has been threatened, the South African Republic may purport to sell it, in order thereby to procure funds for the war. In answer to the fifth question, I will lay a copy.