HC Deb 01 February 1900 vol 78 cc256-7
MR. BAINBRIDGE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, either before the October session of Parliament or since, the Government were in possession of any evidence which justified them in believing that the policy of the Transvaal Republic (with or without an agreement or understanding with the Orange Free State) is the establishment of Boer supremacy over the colonies of Natal and Cape Colony; and, if so, whether any Papers bearing on this subject will be laid before the House.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The conclusion we have formed upon this very important question of course is the result of the consideration of a vast number of particular circumstances which, at all events in my opinion, all lead up to the conclusion I have more than once expressed in public, and which the hon. Gentleman has embodied in this question. But if he asks me whether there is any statement by President Kruger or President Steyn to this effect, whether they have ever announced in public that they were parties to this conspiracy and communicated the fact to any British official whose words might be embodied in a Bluebook, of course that is not the case.

MR. DALZIEL

Has the Intelligence Department supplied any evidence on this subject which can be laid before the House?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

They are not a political body.