§ MR. CHARLES DEVLINI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been directed to the speech of Lord Milner at Johannesburg on 28th May; whether Lord Milner's statement that all the Colonies ought to contribute towards the maintenance of the Navy was due to instructions received from His Majesty's Government; whether his advocacy of Imperialism and of the establishment of an Imperial Council received the sanction of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, when is it suggested to carry into effect the proposal to establish an Imperial Council.
§ MR. LYTTELTONI have seen the account given in the newspapers of the speech referred to. Lord Milner was simply expressing his personal views, and has received no instructions from His Majesty's Government on the subject. The question of establishing an Imperial Council has not reached the stage at which it would be possible to say when such a proposal could be carried into effect.