HL Deb 13 February 1902 vol 102 cc1188-9
VISCOUNT FRANKFORT DE MONTMORENCY

My Lords, I think such a Return as I am asking for is necessary in order to arrive at a conclusion as to the time South Africa will take to settle down after the last shot has been fired. Some people consider that that will take a long time, but the period greatly depends on the number of burgher prisoners and the manner in which they are sent back to South Africa. I think that if the Government supplied the information asked for in the Return, it would show that the number of prisoners would not disturb the tranquillity of South Africa when they returned and settled down. I presume that the foreigners would be sent back to their respective countries as "undesirables."

Moved, that an humble Address be presented to His Majesty for a Return of all Boer prisoners in our hands from the commencement of the war to 31st January, 1902, showing—

1. The number of Transvaal and Orange Free State burghers; (2) the number of Cape Colony and Natal rebels who were serving in the Boer army; (3) the number of foreigners now prisoners, who were living in the Transvaal and Orange Free State previous to the war; (4) the number of foreigners, now prisoners, who have joined the Boer army during the war from Europe or elsewhere.—(Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency.)

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord RAGLAN)

My Lords, our latest Return is dated the 18th of last January. It stated that the grand total of prisoners of war, including those who had died and those released on parole, was 28,033. The number now approaches 29,000. The detailed information which the noble Lord asks for is not at present available. Steps are being taken by the Colonial Authorities to obtain, as far as possible, detailed particulars with regard to all prisoners of war. But, at any rate, it is not likely that this information will be completed for some time, and I am afraid we can give no information as to when it will be laid before Parliament. There is great difficulty in collecting statistics, because a large number of the prisoners are unwilling to give the requisite information.

VISCOUNT FRANKFORT DE MONTMORENCY

After the statement of the noble Lord I beg to withdraw the Motion.

Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.