MR. SWIFT MACXEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether be is aware that Herr Beit, one of the original petitioners for the charter of the South Africa Committee who helped with monetary aid the Rhodes-Jameson plot against the Transvaal, and who was declared by the Report of the South Africa Committee to have been generally conversant with the objects and proceedings of Mr. Rhodes in the series of circumstances whichled to the Jameson Laid, has been re-appointed to the position of director of the South Africa Company; will he state what 181 communications passed between the Chartered Company, or any representative of that Company, and the Colonial Office with reference to the re-appointment of Herr Beit on the Board of that Company; and had that appointment the sanction of the Colonial Office; and, if so, on what grounds was that sanction based.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)I have no information as to the alleged re-appointment of Mr. Beit as a director of the British South Africa Company. The appointment of directors of the British South Africa Company is not subject to my approval, unless they are not British subjects.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs Mr. Beit a British subject?
§ [No answer was returned.]