§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSON (Northumberland, Tyneside)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Transvaal law against the immigration of Asiatics would operate to the exclusion of Asiatics who are naturalised subjects of Portugal.
§ COLONEL SEELYI am now able to give a more detailed reply to my honourable friend's Question. The Answer would depend upon the legal interpretation of Article II. of the Treaty of 1875, between Portugal and the late South African Republic; Article X. of the modus vivendi of 1901, concluded between the High Commissioner for South Africa and the Governor-General of Mozambique; and the several Transvaal Acts relating to Asiatics. It would appear that such an interpretation could only be given with authority by a decision of a Court of Law.