The Morning Post of Wednesday contained the announce- ment that
the office of High Commissioner for South Africa will be vacant at no distant date, through the resignation of Lord Milner. According to the Morning Post, Lord Milner has for some time been desirous of a rest and of relief from the cares and responsibilities of his post, and it is believed that he will quit South Africa before Christmas. Several names have been suggested for Lord Miler's successor, including Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Sir Arthur Lawley, and Sir Edward Ward. Whether Lord Balfour of Burleigh would be inclined to accept the post we cannot, of course, say, but we have no doubt that his level-headedness, high character, great capacity for affairs, and general sense of statesman- ship would make him an ideal High Commissioner. His knowledge of business and business people would render him perfectly fair to the great capitalist interests in South Africa, but at the same time he would know well how to hold his own against them should public policy demand it. Without being a Pro-Boer, he could also be relied on to be just and reasonable to the Dutch element. In a word, we cannot think of any British statesman alive to-day who would be more likely to do well in South Africa. The post is one surrounded by immense difficulties, but Lord Balfour is not a man who is afraid of difficulties. But granted that Lord Balfour would be willing to go, would the Tariff Reformers be likely to give their consent to the appointment of so sound a Free-trader ?
Previous page
