§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Lord Kitchener did transmit any telegram from General L. Botha to President Kruger; and, if so, why no Papers connected with such transmission are included in the South African Papers circulated on 9th July.
§ MR. BRODRICKLord Kitchener did transmit a telegram from General Louis Botha to ex-President Kruger, and a reply was permitted. The only correspondence on the subject is contained in some brief telegrams as to the cipher which should be employed, which it was not necessary to publish.
§ MR. DILLONCan the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that in the Papers that have been published there is no reference to Lord Kitchener's transmitting this telegram? There is a note of interrogation inserted in Louis Botha's proclamation that a telegram was transmitted.
§ MR. BRODRICKI have explained that the only correspondence which took place was as to the cipher in which this telegram should be sent. There were no telegrams from Lord Kitchener to the Government.
§ MR. DILLONMy argument is founded on this. What objection is there to including in the Papers all that passed between Lord Kitchener and Botha with reference to this telegram? There need be no secret about the cipher.
§ MR. BRODRICKIt is not desirable that correspondence on so private a question as to what cipher should be employed should be given to the public.