The 1908-10 Campaign Against Incorporation Into South Africa (Part 7)

Prominent among the MPs who took up their cause was the pioneer Scottish Labour leader Keir Hardie, who first raised the issue of the Protectorates’ future during Parliament question time when he asked (reportedly to Ministerial cheers) the Colonial Office Undersecretary, Colonel Seely.

(Hardie:) “...whether in the concurrence of all parties in the measure native opinion in the Protectorates has been taken into account, whether in the event of the time coming when it is proposed to transfer the Protectorates from the Crown to the new Parliament the House of Commons will be allowed to discuss the matter before it becomes finally binding?”