Lord Carnarvon on Monday carried the second reading of his
South-African Confederation Bill, under which any Colonies or 'free States in South Africa which accept the Bill can federate themselves into a Dominion on the Canadian model. He took occasion, during an exhaustive speech, imperfectly reported, to explain our position in reference to the Transvaal Republic, which has been the subject of gross exaggeration. Sir T. Shepstone has not threatened annexation, but has frankly pointed out to the Transvaal authorities the extreme danger in which they stand from native hostility and their own anarchy. The Colonial Office do not desire the Transvaal or any other territory in South Africa, but they would accept it if its people wished, and they must, at all events, prevent the bursting out of a great conflagration there, which would not only throw back civilisation, but impose a great burden upon British taxpayers. The only opposition to the Bill came from Lord Grey, who thought South Africa entirely unfitted for re- sponsible self-government, as the bulk of the people were savages, incapable of the franchise, while if they are excluded, power falls into the hands of a caste. That would be sound, if we could govern South Africa like India, but as we cannot, it is better to meet the problem in a Confederation, than in a group of Colonies with jarring interests and sympathies. We are not rid of respon- sible government and its difficulties because the Colonies are too divided to adhere to a common policy with regard to native management.
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