§ MR. THOMAS DEWAR (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)I beg to ask the 71 Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Lord Kitchener's communication to General Botha to the effect that the British Government could not undertake to pay the debts of the late Transvaal Republic applied to the State loans issued previous to the war.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Lord Kitchener's communication to General Botha had special reference to General Botha's inquiry whether debts contracted since the war began and notes issued since that date would be recognised. His Majesty's Government, while declining to undertake liability for debts contracted since the commencement of the war, do not propose to repudiate the State loans issued previous to the war, so far as they can be provided out of the Transvaal, but the terms are still under consideration.