§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Vitaldas Manjee, a British-Indian expelled from the Transvaal for non-compliance with the registration laws of that Colony; whether the man referred to is the lawful holder of a certificate of domicile issued by the Government of the Transvaal during Lord Milner's Governorship; whether such expulsion is in pursuance of an arrangement with the Government of Portuguese East Africa whereby the latter are to detain British-Indian subjects put over their borders and ship them to India; and whether His Majesty's Government intend to take any action?
§ Colonel SEELYI have no official information in this case, but the following telegram has been communicated to the Secretary of State:—
"27–3–09.
"To South Africa British Indian Committee, London.
"Vitaldas Manjee deported Delagoa Bay for India. Domiciled in the Transvaal. Possesses Milner registration certificate. Father domiciled. Prisoner at Volksrust. Urge prevent deportation.
"TRANSVAAL, BRITISH INDIAN ASSOCIATION."
It is not alleged in this telegram that the Indian in question is being illegally expelled from the Transvaal. As he cannot remain in the Transvaal, and he appears to be a prohibited immigrant under the law of Mozambique, his deportation seems to be unavoidable. The Secretary of State does not see how he could press the Transvaal Government or the Portuguese Government with any prospect of success to suspend the operation of the law unless it can be shown that the action of the authorities is in some way ultra vires, or that the circumstances of the case are such as in some way to remove it from the operation of the law.