§ Mr. MARKHAM (Nottinghamshire, Mansfield)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether His Majesty's Government has made any definite proposals to the Natal Government with a view to transferring to Natal a portion of Transvaal territory; whether 799 these proposals have already been debated in the Natal House of Assembly; and, if so, why these negotiations and proposals were not first communicated to the House of Commons before they were submitted for the consideration of the Natal House of Assembly.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Proposals have been made which have been approved by His Majesty's Government and the subject has been discussed in the Natal Parliament. The proposals have been made public in Natal because that Colony is directly interested. I have laid Papers on the Table on the subject.
§ MR. MARKHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government of Natal sought for Transvaal territory from His Majesty's Government, or whether the proposal to transfer such territory was in the first instance made by him or Lord Milner, directly or indirectly, to the Natal Government; and whether he will state the date when these proposals were first made either by himself, Lord Milner, or by the Government of Natal.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have to refer the hon. Member to the Papers which will be in the hands of hon. Members in a day or so.
§ MR. MARKHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the white population of Natal before the outbreak of war was approximately 50,000; and whether he will state the area of Transvaal territory proposed to be transferred to Natal, as also the Dutch population in such territory.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINThe population of Natal is 53,000. The area of the new territory is 7,000 square miles, and the population about 8,000, mostly Dutch.