§ MR. MOLTENO (Dumfriesshire)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State 644 for the Colonies what is the nature of the modus vivendi between Portugal and the Transvaal, of which the Cape Colony and Natal complain, and which is referred to in the speech of the Governor of the Cape Colony at the opening of the present session of the Cape Parliament, as being to the detriment of the British Coast Colonies; by whom was it made; and whether the Cape and Natal were consulted at the time in the matter.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe modus vivendi is printed as an appendix to Cd. 2104. It was made by and between the then High Commissioner for South Africa and Governor-General of Mozambique in December, 1901. I am not aware that the Governments of the Cape Colony and Natal wore consulted upon a matter which after all primarily concerns the Transvaal.
§ MR. MOLTENOI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any official information showing that the modus vivendi between Portugal and the Transvaal has unduly favoured the trade of the foreign port of Delagoa Bay to the disadvantage of that of the ports of the British Colonies of the Cape and Natal; and that the trade to the Transvaal via the Capo and Natal has dwindled to small proportions as compared with that via Delagoa Bay.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe question of the modus vivendi forms the subject of negotiation at present between His Majesty's Government and the Portuguese Government. The information given in answer to a written Question by the hon. Member to-day does not indicate that the Transvaal trade through Natal at all events has dwindled to small proportions. †