STUDIES - IN SOUTH AFRICAN POLICY.* IT is not often that
an actor in the first part of a political drama is found giving his opinion on the closing scenes. Mr. Lionel Phillips has a long and varied South African experience behind him. He was at Kimberley in the early days of De Beers ; he helped to found the mining industry on the Rand, and for long was its acknowledged leader ; be was one of the Johannesburg Reformers, and was condemned to death at the Pretoria trial. Such a career gives him a sufficient foundation of knowledge for an estimate of those South African problems which change in detail but not in character. Last year be returned to the Transvaal, and had an opportunity of judging the state of the country since the war. In such circumstances it was inevitable that a book should be written, and assuredly no South African publicist is entitled to a more attentive hearing. Mr. Phillips discusses the Chinese labour question, and defends the policy of Mr. Lyttelton and Lord Milner partly on economic grounds and partly by the familiar argument that any other system would have meant the creation of a population of "mean whites." We do not propose. to argue the matter here, for our readers are familiar with the reasons we have given for taking the opposite view. But with the exception of this chapter, we can recommend Mr. Phillips as an impartial, broad-minded, and fully informed guide to the main problems of the new Colonies. The book, indeed, is written with studied modera- tion. There is no rhetoric, no flamboyant forecasts ; the author gives chapter and verse for all his statements ; and he has the signal merit of facing each question fairly, and not blinking the difficulties. He has no prejudices, but neither has he any illusions. At the same time, he has that optimism as to the country's future which has value only when it is based, as in his case, on complete frankness and an earnest intention of glossing nothing over. Much has been written in the last few years on South African politics, but there was room and to spare for Mr. Phillips's luminous common- sense.
The early pages deal with the change in the condition of the country and the work of resettlement after the war. Then come three able chapters on the mining industry and its appurtenances, written with a complete mastery of the subject, and without any of the unintelligible technicalities which often perplex the reader in such dis- quisitions. Some idea of the immense capital sunk in the Rand may be gained from Mr. Phillips's figures. The cost of equipping and developing the seventy principal gold mines has been up to date well over 244,000,000. The value of the gold mined during the same period has been over £120,000,000. Some idea, again, of the extent of opera- tions is given by the value of the ore per ton, which works out on an average at only 42s. 11d., which, with working expenses at 30s. 11d., leaves a net profit per ton of only 12s. Mr. Phillips rightly insists upon the value of the capitalist in developing a new country, and on the duty which he owes to the general future of the State. Even on.the lowest ground of self-interest, it is wise for him to do all in his power to further settlement and the well-being of the community ; for only then will be acquire steady and efficient labour and the assistance which local production gives to his own business. The study of these chapters will repay any one who wishes to understand how vast and intricately organised a business gold-mining on the Rand has become. The most original parts of the book, however, are those devoted to the native question and to the development of party politics in the Transvaal. On the first matter Mr. Phillips has many hard sayings, which will meet with doubtful sympathy from his South African colleagues. He bases his treatment upon the recent Report of the South African Native Affairs Commission, -and insists upon the gravity of any situation where the lower race outnumbers the higher by six to one, and increases more rapidly. There is no help to be got from a policy of shutting the eyes to facts, or placing barriers to native progress .and stereotyping the
' • Transvaal Problems: Some Notes on Current Politics. By Lionel Phillips. London : John Murray. [12s. net.]
present status. The native must advance ; it is the part of both duty and policy to see that be advances in the best way. But education, Mr. Phillips argues, is not everything ; we must face the question of giving him some share in political life and making him an integral part of the social organism. Only thus can we secure ourselves against the dangers of a growing helot caste. The Report advocated the same franchise for natives as for Europeans, separate native constituencies, and white Members with special qualifica- tions. Mr. Phillips in the main agrees with these sug- gestions, and adds certain comments of his own. He would have matters made clear from the start by a declaration by the various Governments that no equality between races was contemplated. Any policy to be effective with natives must be straightforward, and they must be made to realise that they are given a share in public life as an educative expedient, and not as an admission of equality. But at the same time they must have a share, which can be increased as they advance in the scale of civilisation. This is one view ; the other, very widely held in South Africa, is that the native is debarred from the political franchise by his radical mental dissimilarity from the white man, and that the most which lie can be given for the present is some kind of nominated Council for the discussion of purely native questions. It is not for us in this place to decide between the two views ; but we may recommend Mr. Phillips's treatment of a difficult question as essentially liberal, far-seeing, and sane.
The four closing chapters, and nearly all the voluminous appendices, are taken up with an analysis of the present political situation in the Transvaal. The conduct of each party leader is traced through a maze of speeches, and we can imagine no better handbook for the coming elections in that Colony. Naturally, it is written rather for South African than for English readers, but Mr. Phillips's central point is well worth our attention. He is perfectly friendly towards the Boers, and looks forward to the abolition of race distinctions as the ideal of all South African policy. But he maintains that they must first be beaten at the polls. They have chosen to fight the first elections on racial grounds, and their challenge must be met. It is the duty of the British population to close up its ranks and allow no petty internal quarrels to weaken the front they show to Het Volk and its leaders. The Dutch aim is to recapture the country for Dutch ideas, and till that aim is defeated all talk of conciliation is out of the question :—
"In the first elections, at any rate, we must see the old conflict for racial ascendency reappear. No writing or talking will cure the malady, which may, however, be expected to disappear in time, given impartial and fearless treatment, coupled with capable and honest administration. Sops to the Boers in the sha.pe of unjustifiable concessions, so far from securing their goodwill, will merely provoke their contempt. After the elec- tions have determined the strength of parties, the hope of ultimate union and the obliteration of racial animosities lies in combinations that may be formed in the Legislature, irrespective of race, upon questions affecting national progress."
This is sound political good sense, and we trust that these candid and broad-minded studies will not fail in securing the attention they deserve.
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