§ MR. BLACK (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is Lord Kitchener or Lord Milner who is at present primarily and directly responsible to the Government for the conduct of His Majesty's affairs in relation to the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINLord Milner is responsible for all matters relating to the administration of the two Colonies except such as are specially reserved on account of military exigencies.
§ MR. BLACKArising out of that answer may I ask whether overtures for peace are to be dealt with by the Government or Lord Kitchener direct, as falling within his province?
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. Gentleman wants to ask a new Question, he must put it on the Paper.
§ MR. BLACKI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the indication given in the recent correspondence with the Dutch Government to the effect that the overtures for peace should be made to Lord Kitchener, he will now modify the instructions to that Officer prohibiting him from expressing any opinion upon verbal communications made to him by Botha or other Boer leaders.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government have no intention of altering the instructions given on 19th April last.
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member seems to think that no Question is complete without a supplementary one. The Question on the Paper has been fully answered.