On Wednesday the House of Commons was occupied with the
discussion of a Resolution that in any settlement of South African affairs this country should recognise its responsibility for the protection of coloured races excluded from political rights. One speaker maintained that the Boer was a better master to the native than the Briton, and Mr. Wedgwood, who for some time was a Resident Magistrate in the Trans- vaal, in an excellent maiden speech warmly defended the humanity of his countrymen. The chief speech was made by Mr. Churchill, who, on behalf of the Government,- accepted the Motion. After the grant of self-government all question
involving a differentiation between the treatment of natives and Europeans would be reserved for the Imperial Govern- ment, and it was contemplated also reserving an annual sum of money for the administration of native affairs. His attack on Lord Miler's native policy, deprecated later by Mr. Wyndham, was ill-founded, for the late High Commissioner always showed himself far in advance of South African opinion in his jealousy for native interests. Mr. Churchill defended the general justice of leaving South Africa to deal with her black popula- tion. The black peril was a very grim problem, and it was the South Africans who would suffer from any mistaken policy, and who must in the main be allowed to judge for themselves.
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