21 AUGUST 1886, Page 16

MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND THE LATE GOVERNMENL.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

Sia,—In your issue of August 14th, Mr. Smart, of Kidwelly, accuses Mr. Chamberlain of having misrepresented Mr. Camp- bell-Bannerman and the late Government in a speech delivered at Cardiff during the recent Election. Will you kindly allow me to say that Mr. Chamberlain was in no way guilty of any misrepresentation on the occasion in question ? Mr. Campbell- Bannerman said over and over again to his constituents that the Government has indirectly consulted the Irish-American leaders, and had obtained the approval of these men to their Home-rule Bill. This was said by Mr. Campbell-Bannerman at Stirling, at Queensferry, and at St. Ninians. Of course,. there were shouts of disapproval on the part of the audience at each of these places ; but Mr. Campbell-Bannerman stuck to his point, and told us that to consult the Irish-American leaders was " a very reasonable thing to do." It is true that Mr. Campbell-Bannerman denied this when brought to book about it, but his denial does not and cannot make truth to be untruth.