§ MR. BLACK (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether either Lord Kitchener or Lord Milner have any power without 1269 first asking special instructions from His Majesty's Government to accept the surrender of any leader of an armed band in the Transvaal or Orange River Colony, or one who has in the past acted as such, except upon the basis of his being permanently banished from South Africa; and, if these noblemen have no such power, whether, with the view of encouraging such surrenders, His Majesty's Government will give Lord Kitchener discretionary powers in this respect.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINLord Milner and Lord Kitchener are not prevented by the Proclamation from submitting any proposals for surrender from any of the Boer leaders. I understand that Lord Kitchener, acting on his own authority, has already accepted the surrender of some minor leaders on the understanding that their liability to banishment under the Proclamation will not be enforced in their case. His Majesty's Government have made no objection.