A MISUNDERSTANDING.
[[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR"]
SIE,—In your article in the Spectator of November 16th headed "Soldier-Settlers for South Africa" you discuss the problem of settling men in the conquered territories when the war is over. You assume that the military authorities will have a large amount of material at their disposal for which they will have no further use, "material which under ordinary circumstances would be sold to the nearest Jew speculator at nominal prices." Why when all, regardless of creed, are laying down their lives for King and country, make such an offensive assumption ? Why at such a time draw invidious distinctions between one creed and another? The Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland by their disloyal attitude foment discord in that unhappy country. Yet who would venture to say a word against the followers of their faith in England ? I venture to think you will withdraw what was no doubt an unintentional slur upon my coreligionists.—I am, Sir, &c.,
AN ENGLISH jEW.
[We are astonished that our correspondent should have found anything offensive in the phrase complained of, which was not for a moment meant to depreciate the Jewish race or creed, which has sent soldiers to support the British cause in South Africa out of all proportion to its numbers. We believe that as a rule the speculators who buy under the con- ditions suggested are in fact Jews, but neither their race nor employment is thereby assailed. Our objection was against the selling, not the buying. We should have thought that the consistent, clear, and uncompromising attitude taken by the Spectator on the Anti-Semite agitation would have pro- tected us against the above complaint. No slur of any kind was meant.—En. Spectator.]
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