§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, 522 during the recent Transvaal elections, to the effect that he was in favour of keeping British troops in the Transvaal after the grant of self-government, because they were good for trade and were not paid for by the Transvaal; whether the British troops now in the Transvaal are retained there for any other purpose than the benefit of local trade, if so, what is that purpose; and whether there is any prospect of the establishment of a Colonial force to serve that purpose.
§ MR. HALDANEMy attention has not been drawn to the statement alluded to in the first part of the Question. The British troops in the Transvaal are not retained there for the benefit of local trade but for purposes of Imperial defence. As regards the last part of the Question, I have no information to give my hon. friend.