MR. MACKAKNESS (Berkshire, Newbury)I beg to ask the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether the Secretary of State has received a letter from General Botha asking the Government to take drastic action to bring to an end the employment of Chinese in the Transvaal gold mines: and, if, so, what reply has been given to the letter; and whether the correspondence will be included in the forthcoming Blue-book on South African affairs.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe Secretary of State has received a letter from General Botha urging that unless the outrages committed by the Chinese coolies can be effectively stopped the labourers should be repatriated in the interests of public tranquillity. The reply to this letter is on its way to South Africa and will be included in the forthcoming Blue-book.