17 MARCH 1900, Page 2

There is nothing to be said in regard to this

state- ment of the British case except that it is thoroughly sound and just, but we almost wish that Lord Salisbury had added that though we do not intend to leave the Republics as independent States, we have no intention of treating their Dutch inhabitants as the Dutch in- habitants of the Transvaal treated the British who were settled among them, but shall, when the necessary period of reoonstruction is over, yield to them the rights of language, self-government, and equal justice which they so vehemently withheld. Perhaps, however, at this moment he was right to be content with his dignified refusal of the pre- posterous Dutch terms.