§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSSeeing my noble friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies in his place, I would like to ask whether he can give the House any news with reference to the Transvaal.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (the Earl of SELBORNE)My Lords, in answer to the question of the noble Earl, I have to say that the following telegram has been received from the High Commissioner, Sir Alfred Milner:
19th July, British Agent South African Republic reports Article IV. of Franchise Law passed by twenty-two votes to live, with following alterations in Clause 1—viz. the words 'at least seven' are substituted for 'nine,' and the words from 'or five years' to end of clause are deleted. This has effect of making residential qualification for franchise seven years retrospective.Her Majesty's Government have no official information as to redistribution, but it has been stated that the Government of the South African Republic proposes to give seven new seats to the districts chiefly inhabited by aliens. If this report is confirmed, this important change in the proposals of President Kruger, coupled with previous Amendments, leads the Government to hope that the new law may prove to be a basis of settlement on the lines laid down by Sir Alfred Milner at the Bloemfontein Conference. They observe, however, that the Volksraad have still retained a number of conditions which might be so interpreted as to preclude those otherwise qualified from acquiring the franchise, and might, therefore, be used to take 1351 away with one hand what has been given with the other. The provision that the alien desirous of burghership shall produce a certificate of continuous registration during the period required for naturalisation is an instance of this, for it has been stated that the law of registration has been allowed to fall into desuetude, and that but few aliens, however long resident in the country, have been continuously registered. It would also be easy by subsequent legislation to alter the whole character of the concessions now made, but Her Majesty's Government feel assured that the President, having accepted the principle for which they have contended, will be prepared to reconsider any detail of his schemes which can be shown to be a possible hindrance to the full accomplishment of the object in view, and that he will not allow them to be nullified or reduced in value by any subsequent alterations of the law or acts of administration. I may add that Her Majesty's Government received late last night the following telegram from the Governor of Natal:19th July. Resolution proposed to-day in Assembly by Baynes, seconded by Escombe. Begins:—'Legislative Assembly, Natal, desires to express its sympathy with and approval of action of British Government in its endeavour to secure equal rights and privileges for all Europeans in Smith Africa, whereby peace, prosperity, and termination of racial animosity in this country can alone be assured.' Ends. Prime Minister, who had to be carried to Assembly from his bed, to which he has been confined by the result of an accident for a fortnight, strongly supported on behalf of Government. Resolution carried unanimously amidst cheers.