§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mrs. Christian De Wet, the wife of the Boer General, was on the 30th March last still detained in the concentration camp at Pieter-maritzburg, and prohibited from leaving that camp; and whether, having regard to the state of this lady's health and increasing physical weakness, the War Office has any, and, if so, what explanation to give for the treatment to which she has been subjected.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg also to ask the Secretary of State for War whether Mrs. De Wet is still detained in the concentration camp at Pieter-maritzburg, and, if so will he explain why she is not set at liberty, and on what grounds there was any interference with the liberty of Mrs. De Wet; whether he has sent any answer to the 183 letter received by him from Mrs. De Wet last month, and, if he has done so, will he say to what effect.
§ MR. BRODRICKI know nothing of Mrs. De Wet's detention. As I stated to the House in February, Mrs. De Wet can go to Holland or any place out of South Africa she prefers. I have received no letter from Mrs. De Wet.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give us some approximation of the time when the persecution of women will cease?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!
§ MR. C. P. SCOTTHas Mrs. De Wet been informed that she may leave South Africa?
§ MR. BRODRICKI have not the slightest doubt about it. I think the telegram from Lord Kitchener stated that she had been informed that she could go where she pleased.
§ MR. C. P. SCOTTPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will see that she is so informed.
§ MR. BRODRICKNo, Sir; I think an exaggerated importance has been attached to Mrs. De Wet's position.