§ MR. POWER (Waterford, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Lord Milner and his advisers have consented to the interment of the remains of the late President Kruger at Pretoria; and, if so, whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to offer one of His Majesty's ships for the conveyance of the remains to South Africa.
§ MR. LYTTELTONPerhaps I may be allowed to reply to this. Lord Milner and his advisers have consented to the interment of the late President Kruger in Pretoria. With regard to the recommendation in the Question of the hon. Member, the Government have considered the matter very carefully; and I think the House will agree that it is desirable to do nothing in any sense in connection with this matter inharmonious with the wishes of the family and the general sense of the countrymen of the late President Kruger. Having that consideration before them, in view of the many sensibilities concerned, the solution of the matter that has been possible to us is contained in the following telegram to Lord Milner—
"Please inform General Hildyard that any military honours he may consider proper to arrange for in connection with the funeral of the late President Kruger will have the fullest sanction of His Majesty's Government. Such a recognition of the conspicuous position so long held by the late President Kruger in South Africa may be acceptable to the family and the Boer community at large; but unless you are satisfied that it will be acceptable, you will, of course, take no action on this telegram."