§ MR. MARKHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to a speech delivered last Thursday by Sir R. Solomon, Attorney-General of the Transvaal Government, on the Second Reading of the Precious Stones Bill, in which he 388 stated that the recent diamond discoveries were larger and richer than any others in South Africa, and that it was necessary the mine should be as much as possible under the control of one person; and, if so, will he say whether, when he was in South Africa, this policy of placing the diamond mines in the hands of monopolists was sanctioned and approved by him.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI imagine that the policy will depend on the merits of each case. The subject was not discussed by me during my visit to South Africa.