The newspapers of Friday publish a letter addressed to Mr.
Balfour by a number of well-known persons, headed by the Bishop of Hereford, and including Mr. John Burns, Mr. Burt, the Master of Balliol, and Major Seely, asking that the experiment of introducing Chinese indentured labour into the Transvaal may be brought to an end. The arguments used by the opponents of Chinese labour need not be repeated ; but we may notice shortly one point in Mr. Balfour's reply,—a reply which shows little of that controversial skill and acumen which are usually to be found in the Prime Minister's public letters. Mr. Balfour dwells upon the Lot that under the Transvaal Constitution the white population will soon have an adequate machinery for expressing their views, and adds that should that view be antagonistic, he would gladly agree to abandon the experiment. But if Mr. Balfour attaches so much importance to popular opinion in this matter, why did he refuse to let the peoRle of the Trans- vaal be consulted before the 'Chinese were introduced.?
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