§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can explain why Mr. Newton, who was Resident Commissioner of the Bechuanaland Protectorate at the time of the Jameson Raid, has been appointed to the position of Colonial Secretary for Barbados, with a seat on the Legislative Council of that island, seeing that his conduct in allowing himself to be persuaded by Mr. Rhodes to withhold from the High Commissioner, the late Lord Rosmead, information of the existence of the plot against the Transvaal of which he had knowledge, was condemned in the Report of the South African Committee, and, will he, having regard to Mr. Newton's conduct in the Jameson Raid transaction, give an assurance that Boer prisoners of war shall not be deported to Barbados while this gentleman is entrusted with a share of the administration of that island.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Mr. Newton is an excellent Colonial officer, but he was removed from South Africa in consequence of the condemnation of his conduct and has served as Colonial Secretary of British Honduras, which post carried less salary than his previous appointment, since 1898, and has now been promoted on account of his services in that capacity and of his fitness. I am not prepared to give such an assurance.
§ MR SWIFT MACNEILLDid Mr. Rhodes approve of the appointment?
§ [No answer was returned].