25 AUGUST 1900, Page 2

The letters addressed by Mr. Labouchere to Mr. Montagu White,

the Consul of the Transvaal Government, are not of any great importance per se, but they show a vindictiveness towards Mr. Chamberlain which deserves the condemnation of honest men of all parties. If Mr. Labonchere's advice to the Transvaal Government had really been the outcome of a genuine desire for peace one might pardon him, however reckless and mistaken in his methods. But we do not think any impartial person can read his words and not see that what he wanted was not to secure peace, but to do

something to injure Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. Laboachere writes an impudent and frivolous letter to Mr. Chamberlain in reply to the official communication sent to him with copies of his two letters. Mr. Labouchere is very angry that Mr. Chamberlain should have asked him whether he had any explanations and observations to make in regard to them,—a very proper course. The incident is not worth dwelling on, but we trust that we shall hear less in future of Mr. Labonchere's excursions into the realms of politics.