[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR. "] SIR, —Perhaps you will allow
me to say that I cannot but think that your thoughtful correspondent of last week on this subject makes a—not unnatural—mistake. May I ven- ture to ask him and your readers generally to think of two or three points ? (1) It seems to me that a treaty may be torn up without dishonour if the nnworded understanding which exists, or ought to exist, between civilised nations be disre- garded. In this case—wisely or unwisely—the understanding was in 1881 that we were helping to found a Free Republic. As a matter of fact, we find that we have founded a very narrow oligarchy, or rather, one ought to say, an autocracy. (2) Treaty rights stand if both parties observe their under- takings. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that a main effort of the Transvaal Government has seemed to be to dis- regard theirs. This one can easily prove, only I cannot now ask for space to go into details. (3) Any one who knows the Transvaal knows that, in the simplicity of our hearts, we set up there one of the moat corrupt Governments of modern times. Hitherto a Krugerite propaganda in South Africa,
and, far more, in England, has succeeded in blinding English men to facts. Any further to support such a State— for which we are responsible, and which is causing unrest to territories and people directly depending upon us—seems to many of us an act of iniquity and unrighteousness, which England ought not to be answerable for, without grave search-
lugs of heart.—I am, Sir, &c., W. J. Knox LITTLE.
The College, Worcester, June 20th.
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