§ MR. J. P. FARRELL (Longford, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that a number of Boer prisoners including an Irishman named A. O'Brien, are still confined in Ceylon with black criminals there, he will state on what grounds these men are still imprisoned; and will they be released immediately, in view of the general amnesty in South Africa.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.Nineteen of the irreconcilable prisoners of war in Ceylon having been guilty of insubordination have been lodged, for safe custody, in the military prison at Colombo where they are not in contact with black prisoners. I have been in communica- 910 tion with the Governor as to allowing these men to proceed to Java and have reason to believe that this will shortly be arranged.