§ MR. LEES KNOWLES (Salford, W.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Preston (Mr. Tomlinson), I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, although Her Majesty's Government raise no objection to the payment to the Government of the South African Republic of the ordinary rents and licences reserved under contracts made prior to the commencement of the war, Her Majesty's High Commissioner has refused to allow such payments to be made; and whether the Government can give any assurance that Her Majesty's subjects shall not suffer from the prohibition by the High Commissioner of the making of such payments.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)In answer to the first paragraph, I have to say that I understand that Sir Alfred Milner, whilst raising no objection to the action of persons making payment out of funds in the Transvaal, has refused to approve colonial banks sending forward to Transvaal branches authorisation to make such payments on the ground that this would be trading with the enemy and a breach of the regulations accepted by the banks. As to the second paragraph, Her Majesty's Government have announced by the High Commissioner's notice of 19th January that they will not recognise any forfeiture of immovable property declared since the commencement of the war.