Mr. Chamberlain was welcomed at Durban, where he landed on
Friday week, with the utmost enthusiasm. At the luncheon given in his honour on the same day Mr. Chamberlain's main theme was reconciliation. " Two proud and kindred races had come to stay in South Africa." Out of the great qualities honoured in the heroes of the two races had sprung some of the greatest difficulties. Between such peoples the struggle for supremacy was bound to come. Now that the trial had come and the issue had been decided, " the British flag will be, and must be, paramount in South Africa. If that is granted, which is freely conceded by those brave men who led the foe, what can longer separate us ?" —though he was careful to add that they could not expect the memories of the war to be effaced in a moment. Mr. Chamberlain paid a generous tribute to the ability, firmness, and honesty of purpose of Lord Milner, whose hands he hoped that his visit might have some effect in strengthening. Not the least notable passage in a striking speech was the un- rehearsed vindication of Downing Street, prompted by some remarks of Sir John Robinson. It was, he said, the greatest, ablest, and, above all, the purest, Civil Service the world ever knew. It was a great advantage to be on the spot; still he contended that from Downing Street it was sometimes possible to take a broader and wider view, and to look at things from an Imperial, not from a local, stand- point.
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