Mr. Balfour on Thursday, at a luncheon given to him
at Dundee on his receiving the freedom of the city, dwelt with a deep sense of responsibility on the prospect of war. The Government, he declared, had shown "the utmost measure of long-suffering moderation." "We have sought peace earnestly and conscientiously to the utmost of our ability. We have striven for long for a peaceful and honourable solu- tion of this perennial South African difficulty, and if that honourable solution is not now to prove a peaceful solu- tion the fault rests on other heads than ours." If the Transvaal Government had only treated the English settlers within their borders as we have treated the Dutch in our Colonies, peace and independence would have been secured to the Republic. Unfortunately -the- rulers of the Transvaal
" have consistently, and without intermission, and without rest pursued a policy absolutely inconsistent with, anu diametrically opposed to," such a policy. We commend Mr.
Balfour's words to those who still have misgivings that we are forcing an unjust war on the Boers. It is clear that he is willing to share in the fullest degree the responsibility for the war. But is he the kind of man who would take up such a responsibility blindly, light-heartedly, or without the closest examination, and the firmest belief that the action of the nation can be justified, not at the bar of expediency, but of justice?
