The expected debate in the Lords on Zulu affairs came
off on Tuesday, Lord Lansdowne moving a resolution which censured Sir Bartle Frere for declaring war without permission, and the Government for retaining him in office after their public censure. Lord Lansdowne made a good but not original speech, giving the history of the war clearly ; and was answered by Lord Cranbrook, whose points were that Natal was exposed to danger from Cetewayo's movements, that everything should have been done to come to terms, that Sir B. Frere did not do this, but pre- sented an Ultimatum, that in this he had erred, but that the error was not one of inefficiency, but of over-zeal, and therefore the Government had not recalled him. He had still the work of confederation to carry through. Lord Cranbrook denied entirely that the Government had a policy of annexation, and elicited warm cheers by saying they were not bound to exact the terms contained in the Ultimatum. Lord Carnarmn defended and Lord Blachford attacked the High Commissioner, in speeches sufficiently considered elsewhere; Lord Kimberley thought that Sir Bartle Frere, if he had a spark of honour or spirit, would resign—he forgets that Sir Bartle was trained in India, where the etiquette is to accept not only rebuke, but punishment, without resigning—and Lord Salisbury denied that the Government had expressed any opinion on the policy of Sir Bartle Frere. They had only blamed him for not awaiting orders from home. He trusted Sir Bartle would not resign. The debate was wound up by Lord Beaconsfield, who de- nied in the most absolute terms that the Government had any policy of annexation,—a declaration to which he was immediately nailed by Lord Granville,—doubted the policy of annexing the Transvaal—a dig at Lord Carnarvon—declared it necessary to censure Sir Bartle Frere, but not to recall him, and maintained that the right of the Executive Government to retain him in his position was the only question at issue. As the result was a foregone one, the Liberal Peers did not come up to vote, and the division showed a majority for the Govern- ment of 156 to 61.
