HC Deb 09 July 1900 vol 85 cc946-7
MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the correspondence between Sir William Butler and the War Office and the Colonial Office, and the correspondence between Sir William Butler and Sir Alfred Milner before Sir William Butler's recall from the Cape command, will be included in the documents relating to public affairs in South Africa, whose publication has been promised within a fortnight from 5th July.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

If the hon. Gentleman will look back at some full answers I gave earlier in the session, I think he will be satisfied without pressing the question further.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect what answer he gave? That it was in the discretion of—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether in the publication of despatches and documents relating to political affairs in South Africa which will, according to his promise, be published within a fortnight from 5th July, will be included the minute or despatch or communication sent home by Sir William Butler, when commander of the forces in South Africa and acting governor of Cape Colony, in which he set forth his views of the military situation, of the forces required to be employed in the event of the outbreak of hostilities with the South African Republics, and the disposition which should be given to those forces.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

This question is, of course, covered by the answer I have just given.