MAJOR SEELYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the fact that at a congress held in Pretoria on 23rd of May, attended by about 150 delegates, representing a large proportion of the white inhabitants of the Transvaal, a resolution protesting against the importation of Chinese labour into the Transvaal was passed without a single dissentient speech or vote; and, if so, whether, in view of these circumstances, he will now direct that a vote of the white inhabitants be taken in order to decide the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Lyttelton.) My attention has been drawn to the proceedings of the congress and to the resolution referred to, which approves the message from the Boer leaders printed at page 21 of Cd. 1899. I am not prepared to take the action suggested, for the reasons given in my reply to the message which is printed at page 22.