§ MR. HENRY J. WILSON () Yorkshire, W. R., HolmfirthTo ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that, while some late prisoners of war at Cape Town have been permitted to make the declaration referred to in his interview with the Boer Generals on the 5th September last, some other late prisoners, including M. du Toit, exCaptain of Transvaal Artillery, have been refused by Captain L. A. M'Clintock, who stated to M. du Toit that the order was that the oath of allegiance must be taken before a permit to proceed to the Transvaal could be obtained; and whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that his statement to the Boer Generals as to all prisoners of war having a choice between the oath and the declaration shall be carried out by the authorities at the Cape.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.) A letter from M. du Toit on this subject has been received by the Secretary of State, and he has been informed that a copy of it has been forwarded to Lord Milner, who will communicate with M. du Toit. Lord Milner is aware that all prisoners of war have the choice of making a declaration or taking an oath of allegiance.