§ MR. MITCHELL-THOMSONI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Transvaal Government have requested His Majesty's Government to approach any other Government than the French Government with a view to the securing of a supply of imported labour for the mines.
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir.
§ SIR BERKELEY SHEFFIELDI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any negotiations are taking place by the Transvaal, either directly or through the Colonial Office, for the recruiting of labour in the mines of South Africa with the Portuguese authorities.
§ MR. CHURCHILLYes, Sir; negotiations have been frequent between the Transvaal Government and the local Portuguese authorities, both before and since the establishment of responsible government.
§ MR. EVELYN CECIL (Aston Manor)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Mr. Rissik, at Pretoria, on the 5th instant, with regard to recruiting natives from Madagascar for the Transvaal mines; whether any reply has yet been received from the French Government upon the subject; and, if so, what are the terms on which the recruiting is proposed.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI have seen a Press telegram regarding Mr. Rissik's statement. No communication has yet been made to the French Government.