In the Lords on Monday Lord Milner opened a long
debate on the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies with an im- pressive but pessimistic speech. In particular, he dwelt on the danger involved in the immediate grant of responsible government to the Orange River Colony, where, although the process of reconciliation had been as rapid as could be expected, not only did no affection for the British Empire exist, but almost every man of influence amongst the Boers had from the very outset devoted himself to thwarting the policy of reconciliation, and keeping alive the bitterest memories of the war. With such an element as the majority of the first elected Parliament, and with the prospect that the very band which drafted the ultimatum of October, 1899, may within a year be drafting Ministers' Minutes for submission to a British Governor who would have no option but to obey them, what security could there be for British officials, settlers,. or teachers ? As regards Chinese labour, he frankly confessed that he and the majority of the white population of the Transvaal had been originally opposed to it. But they had been converted by the facts, by the supreme economic necessity for the policy. In view of the excellence of the purpose and the willingness of the Chinese to come, it was tyranny on the part of the people of this country to prevent the Transvaal and the Chinese from entering into this arrangement, and tyranny was immoral. It was not that the British workman could not do the work, but the mines could not afford the wages which he would rightly require. In conclusion, Lord Milner said he attached much more importance to the general prosperity of the Transvaal than to this or that electoral system, provided it was not grossly unfair.
