§ MR. MACKARNESSI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can state for how many weeks Dinizulu has now been subjected to a secret examination without any definite charge being made against him, and for how long these proceedings are likely to be continued; whether the Secretary of State has received from anyone on behalf of Dinizulu any record of what has taken place; and, if so, whether he will place a copy of it in the Library of the House.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe preliminary inquiry was opened on 23rd December. In view of the long interval which has elapsed since the inquiry was begun the Secretary of State telegraphed recently 1108 to inquire when the decision of the magistrates might be expected, but the reply has not yet been received. A statement from Mr. Jellicoe has been received, and it is proposed to include it with other papers in the next Blue-book, which it is hoped to issue shortly. The Secretary of State has also received Mr. Jellicoe's notes of the proceedings between 23rd and 31st January, which were attached to his letter to the Governor of 7th February, but Lord Elgin does not feel able to give them Parliamentary publication until he has heard further from the Governor on the subject.
§ MR. J. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)May I ask whether, having regard to the fact that after the Jameson Raid the Government appealed to the South African Republic to send the raiders to England to be tried, in view of the probability of prejudice in South Africa, the Government will consider the advisability of making representations to the Government of Natal in favour of a change of venue for the trial of Dinizulu.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI cannot answer that Question on the spur of the moment, but I think there are other representations we make from time to time to the Government of Natal which might possibly be more suitable.