The Conference of the South African Colonies and the Orange
Free State, which concluded its business on February 18th, resolved that the first step towards Federation must be a South African Union upon the basis of internal Free- trade. Nothing will be taxed on any internal frontier except sugar and spirits, while the duties collected at the ports will in all cases be the same, the Governments in the interior receiving their share. The external duties upon everything not admitted free will probably range from 10 to 15 per cent. Any foreign Government in South Africa can at its discretion enter the Union; and if it is discontented, can summon a Con- ference of all the Colonies and States concerned to hear and settle its complaints. That seems a sensible plan ; but it is a little complicated by the absence of any power capable of rigidly enforcing the agreement. Suppose the people of the Transvaal or Delagoa Bay quietly impede, without exactly resisting the entrance of Colonial goods, where is an appeal to lie P The plan is, however, a good one on which to build, and the building will not be too difficult. British power slowly increases under the steady flow of immigration, both into the Colonies and the two Dutch States.
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