§ Mr. Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that after the conclusion of the Basuto War a compact was made between the British Government and the Basutos that henceforth they should be treated as British subjects, and that so long as they did nothing to forfeit the privilege they and their lands should receive the protection of the British Government; and whether he will give an assurance that full effect will continue to be given to this compact?
Marquess of HartingtonI am not aware of any compact of the nature described. Basutoland became British territory in 1868 following a request from the Paramount Chief that the tribe might be admitted into the allegiance of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. A proclamation of the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope of March, 1868, declared that "the said tribe of the Basutos shall be, and shall he taken to be, for all intents and purposes British subjects, and the territory of the said tribe shall be, and shall be taken to be, British territory." This annexation was unconditional.