§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, seeing that His Majesty's Government have paid the coupons on the Transvaal Five per Cent. Loan of 1892, which became due on the 1st January, 1901, and the 1st July, 1901, will he explain why His Majesty's Government have not authorised the payment of the coupon falling due on the 1st July, 1900.
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHHis Majesty's Government assumed responsibility for the payment of the coupon as from the date of the annexation of the Transvaal. Accordingly, the first coupon for which they made themselves answerable was that falling due on the 1st Jauuary, 1901. All bondholders taking payment of the coupons for 1901 agreed to surrender coupons falling due prior to that date.