§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Mr. Albert Cartwright, now undergoing a sentence of imprisonment in Cape Colony under martial law, has applied to the Military authorities for permission, after the expiry of his term of imprisonment on 22nd April, to leave the Colony for England; and, if so, whether he stated in his application that he made it partly on grounds of health and partly on the necessity of earning a livelihood, for which he saw no opening in the Colony; and whether he has been informed that he will not be allowed to go to England.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OF THE WAR OFFICE (Lord STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonMr. Cartwright applied for permission to proceed to England, but the authorities in South Africa did not consider it desirable to grant it. His views, as the right hon. Gentleman is probably aware, are strongly anti-British, and it was not deemed desirable by the authorities in South Africa to increase the number of persons in this country who disseminate anti-British propaganda.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYAre we to understand from the noble Lord that these tribunals administering martial law not only have the right of excluding militant Dutchmen from South Africa but also of banishing Englishmen from England?
§ LORD STANLEYI have given to the right hon. Gentleman the answer my right hon. friend would have given if he had been able to be in his place. He is suffering from a chill in the throat which prevents him being here to answer Questions. At the same time I may say that the answer I have given has my right hon. friend's entire concurrence.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYI am very sorry to hear the cause of the right hon. Gentleman's absence. I shall put the Question in another form.