§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what answer, if any, has been accorded by His Majesty's Government to the claim made by the De Beers Diamond Mine Company and Mr. Cecil Rhodes for £800,000 compensation from the Imperial Government for damage to its property during the siege of Kimberley; and whether the Government in considering this application has had regard to the fact that the safeguarding of the De Beers Mines involved Lord Methuen's march to the Modder River.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)I believe no claim for compensation 732 was made by the De Beers Diamond Mine Company; but I believe there was a claim sent in for £300,000 in relation to expenses incurred by the company for goods supplied and services rendered.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLAnd did the Government tell them to call again?
§ [No answer was returned.]