Parley with Mau Mau
There can be no compromise with the nightmare of Mall Mau. It must be exorcised absolutely. But at the same time it has been only too clear that its grip on the Kikuyu is so tight that a continuing policy of unconditional surrender might mean in effect the decimation of the tribe. Sir Evelyn Baring and General Erskine recognised the inevitable when, following an exhaustive interrogation of ' General China,' the captured and condemned Mau Mau leader, they acted on his suggestion that he should be allowed to negotiate with the. terrorist leaders still at large. It is nearly three weeks since he made his first contact with them and the results must have been encouraging. There may even be a truce so that more extensive negotiations can take place, and if this is to lead t!) an end of the long tale of death and destruction then it is obvious that 'the Government will do well to err on the side of clemency—although those who are guilty cannot escape punishment. Some of the white settlers in Kenya are already talking bitterly of a ' sell-out' to Mau Mau, and Mr. Blundell's comment on hearing, the news was that the move is not in the colony's long-term interest. This uneasiness can be well understood and the Government should spare no pains to set their minds at rest. There will be no ' sell-out' to Mau Mau. But if it is true, as ' China' says, that " there is a widespread feeling that further armed insurrection would bring nothing but hardship to the Kikuyu people," then the Government must exploit it in the most practicable way and bring peace to the, country. If this means that some who are guilty go free and others receive punishment rather lighter than their crimes warrant, it will be a small enough price to pay in the long run. It is too early yet to say what the chances are, but we have the opinion of General Erskine's chief-of-staff that " this is the best chance we have ever had since the emergency began of finishing the shooting war."
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