§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal,, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to the telegram, dated 8th June, to the Colonial Office from Sir Alfred Milner, in which it is stated that the Chamber of Mines, whose head- quarters is at Cape Town, has agreed upon 580 representatives of leading; mining and other companies, who will proceed to Johannesburg as soon as Lord Roberts can receive them, and that as many banking and other commercial representatives as possible will accompany them; will he say if a representative of the African Bank will be among them, specially privileged to enter Johannesburg; and, on what ground special facilities will be afforded to the representatives of the capitalist bodies of returning to Johannesburg, while British mining operatives have been warned that they cannot return to Johannesburg for a considerable time, and that they will be detained in their journey from England to the Transvaal at South African ports.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.(1) The substance of the telegram was communicated to the newspapers by my instructions. (2) I do not know. (3) The answer to the last paragraph of the question is contained in the telegram from Sir A. Milner to which the hon. Member refers. It is clearly inexpedient to allow large numbers of persons seeking, employment to return to Johannesburg until military demands upon transport and supply become less urgent, 65 and until the representatives of the great industries, such as managers, engineers, etc., have made the arrangements necessary before the industries of the place can be re-established.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman instruct Sir A. Milner to take care that the places once occupied by whites are not filled by blacks?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI do not think any such instructions are necessary.