HC Deb 07 February 1902 vol 102 cc656-7
MR. BLACK (Banffshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, in view of the recent correspondence with the Dutch Government, whether the entertainment of and forwarding to the Government of overtures of peace from the Boer leaders in South Africa is within the area of duties reserved to Lord Kitchener in the exercise of which he is primarily and directly responsible to the Government.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. Chamberlain,) Birmingham, W.

Lord Kitchener was instructed on April 19th to forward to His Majesty's Government any further suggestions which General Botha or other leaders might make of their own accord without expressing any opinion upon them to those who make them. If any such overtures are received and entertained by His Majesty's Government, and a discussion of them appears to be desirable, Lord Milner will be associated with Lord Kitchener for this purpose.

MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have any reason to believe that the Note of the Dutch Government in respect to the South African War was made in consultation with another European Power.

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CRANBORNE,) Rochester

His Majesty's Government have no information on the subject.