§ 20. Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, under an agreement concluded last month, the claim of the Union Government of South Africa to purchase a section of the railway from Vryburg to Palapye, in Bechuanaland, is recognised; if this recognition was accorded in consideration of an undertaking not to press the claim for 33¾ years; whether, seeing that under section B of this railway agreement the consent of His Majesty's Government is essential, such consent has been given; and whether he is prepared to give an assurance that this agreement will in no way affect the full and free consideration of the political future of the Protectorate of Bechuanaland?
Mr. M. MacDonaldAn agreement of the nature referred to in the first two parts of the question was recently concluded between the Governments of the Union of South Africa and Southern 166 Rhodesia and the Mashonaland and Rhodesia Railway Companies. It was explained to the parties concerned that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom feel that as under the agreement the option to purchase the section of the line in question is not exercisable until a period of 331 years has expired, it would not be possible for them to bind themselves now to a definite course on the expiry of that period. His Majesty's Government in the Union have, however, been informed that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will gladly undertake to maintain contact with them on this question and will give careful consideration to such proposals as the Union Government may wish in due course to make. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.