§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can explain why the despatch received from Sir A. Milner in February last was only published this week; and whether, in future, important messages from South Africa will be laid before Parliament as soon as they are received.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThere was in my opinion no necessity in the public interest for the immediate publication of the despatch in question, which was kept back with other matter in the expectation that further despatches of interest might be received which would be included in the publication of Papers. Owing to the continuance of the war, the progress in regard to civil administration has been slower than I anticipated and the publication of Papers was only finally decided upon when Sir A. Milner's request for leave was received, which I considered should be immediately laid before Parliament.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWas not the despatch which the right hon. 895 Gentleman says it was not in the public interest to publish the one in which Sir Alfred Milner stated that affairs were now worse in the Transvaal than they were six months ago?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI did not say it was not in the interest of the public to publish it. I said its immediate publication was not necessary in the public interest, and it has never been the custom for any Department of the Government to publish every despatch immediately it is received.