South African liberals
Sir: Whilst fully agreeing with Mr Challans's strictures on Mr Vaisey, who, apart from other failings manifest in his article, seems to have fulfilled to perfection the classic role of ' viper in the bosom,' it is necessary to point out that Mr Challans's own studies of South African history are not without flaw.
The Natal colonists, nearly all British, were quite as reactionary in their native policy as the Afrikaners of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. True the Cape Colonists and Transvaal British displayed an enlightened attitude to the natives, but they were fatally weakened in the confrontation with a resurgent Afrikanerdom, by the behaviour of such liberals as Merriman, who hated Britain more than he cared for the natives.
Under the Act of Union both British South African loyalist and native weer betrayed by liberals at home and in South Africa to an aggressive Boerdom, which discriminated as much against rooinek as against Bantu.
Liberals, of whatever ilk, are treacherous friends (cf. F. X. Merriman's abandonment of the natives and Professor Vaizey's hypocritical behaviour in South Africa) and pathetic enemies (vide Professor Vaizey's ridiculous ideas of toppling the South African regime by guerrilla activity). The obvious, lesson is: "Put not your trust in the words of liberals."
Ian R. Rose 13 Hill Rose Avenue ,Harrogate Yorks.
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