We should be sorry to say absolutely that Mr. Bowles's
inference must be the right one ; but if it is not, and Lord Cranborne was merely refusing to be " drawn " on general principles, we cannot say that he showed any very great dialectical skill in his answer. We think the probability is that there is a secret understanding of some kind with Ger- many dating back some six years. What is the nature of that understanding has often been guessed, but whether successfully or no, who can say P In our opinion, the best of the guesses is to the effect that the agreement dealt hypothetically with the possible transfer of Delagoa Bay to Britain. Granted that such a transfer were to take place, and granted also that Germany pledged herself not to interfere with our policy in South Africa, we may have promised Germany " compensation " in East Africa. Could that " compensation " have contemplated exchanges in East Africa which would have given Zanzibar to Germany ? If that was the bargain, we do not think it would prove a popular one in the present state of public opinion. Bat we fully admit that we have no knowledge of what the agreement really was, and are only stating the most probable of the many guesses, which are sure to spring up the moment secret treaties get talked about.
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