Parliament was prorogued on Wednesday. Before, how- ever, the House
separated, there was a scene of some violence in regard to the letters alleged to have been written by Members of Parliament which were found at Pretoria. Sir Wilfrid Lawson contended that the Colonial Secretary ought not to withhold these letters from publication, as until they were disclosed every member of the Radical party would be the subject of suspicion. Mr. Chamberlain indignantly denied that he was holding the letters back for political purposes. Considering the possibility of forgery, and also of the writers being able to explain them, he had determined to send copies to the alleged writers, and he was awaiting their replies. When the replies had been obtained the Government would decide whether to publish them or not. That seems to us a perfectly proper course. The alleged writers, if the letters are forgeries, can say so at once. If they are not, Sir Wilfrid Lawson should appeal to them to publish at once, as of course the Colonial Office cannot forbid a man to publish his own letters. As long as the Government show the letters to the alleged writers, there can be no suppression and no grievance.
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