MR CHAMBERLAIN'S GREATEST TASK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

MR CHAMBERLAIN'S GREATEST TASK.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The generous delight with which the British Prime Minister extols Mr Chamberlain reveals to the Empire a beautiful disposition superior to all greeneyed jealousy. To some old political stagers and youthful Philistines among Mr Balfour's folloAvers this special delight seems somewhat pathetic. It reveals at best to them a truly good and thoughtful man in the chief seat of Imperial poAver, only wise enough amidst many serious blunders of late in Home and foreign affairs, to admire a colleague more popular and powerful than himself, the real creator and leader of the Unionist party. To Mr Balfour, the Colonial Secretary is the creator also of our colonial loyalty and of the Imperial patriotism of the Empire. His services in South Africa simply surpass all human history. Mr Balfour, Ibe lieve, sincerely asks, "Was there ever in the history of mankind, as far as we know, a result so great accomplished in so brief a time?" If the British public could only see Mr Chamberlain with the eyes of the British Premier preferential trade within the Empire would be at our doors, and the magnificent dream of an independent, as Avell as of a united. Empire speedily realized. But Mr Chamberlain has not yet taken the British public into his confidence as he has taken Mr jßalfour. He is waiting for a more convenient season in view of the coming elections. Lord Rosebery, in spite of this fact, and with more charity and courtesy than most of Mr Chamberlain's political opponents, gives him full credit for a pure aim and patriotic purpose but evidently regrets the controversia. manner in which Mr Chamberlain and thr Unionist Government introduce a grave Imperial question to the British Parliament and people. Mr Chamberlain, with all his courtesy and firmness, so impressive of late to Africa and to England, is still a bom political fighter. He returned from his splendid success in South Africa to find his party disunited in Parliament, and. as the bye-elections proved, discredited in the country, the Chief Unionist organ— the "London Times" —informing him that he could find "in the sphere of domestic politics a task not less perplexing and difficult than that which he had to face in South Africa."

Glancing back over Mr Chamberlain's great and interesting political career, as a Birmingham Radical, Liberal Minister under Mr Gladstone, and Unionist Minister under Tory chiefs, the conviction is forced upon us that he is now face to face with the greatest task of his political life. It is most difficult also to escape another conviction —that the task is immensely increased by Mr Chamberlain's connection with a once powerful but now comparatively feeble Government.. How he could Buffer himself to be dragged by the Foreign Office behind the heels of the German Emperor into the Venezuelan fiasco, so annoying to America and the British Empire, and how he relishes "the Mesopotamian mess" in company again ■with Kaiser William, to the irritation of Russia, are profound mysteries to his political friends and foes. His delight in German leadership is of recent date. 'But his willingness to bury the convictions and professions of a lifetime, in permitting the national education of England to fall into the hands of sectarianism and priestcraft, is still more alarming. It may be a courageous spirit that leads him to the grand endeavour of resuscitating a dying Cabinet of mediocrities by the introduction of a grave and urgent Imperial question. The danger of this to the question itself, so utterly unsuited to passionate party politics, and so entirely suited for the calm consideration of statesmen of all parties, and for the highest commercial authorities, is manifest to all. The danger also of creating discontent and independent action in the colonies by the delay of a fair consideration of the question are not to be ignored.

I firmly believe that the good sense and genuine loyalty to the Throne and Empire existing in the colonies, independent of Mr Chamberlain, and which he has had the sympathy and wisdom to evoke,, must overcome the mismanagement oi party Government in the future as in the past. But we would sincerely deplore the result should the green laurels of the most capable of all our Imperial Secretaries suffer by the scorching breath of a party controversy occasioned chiefly by himself.

With all deference to him, and to his follower, Mr Balfour, I submit that a Koyal or Parliamentary Commission of ail parties, working over the late ConferStl «!? « and with the oritil ™ J?* ? Oine and colonial a "thontiea on thw Imperial queation, would

be of immense service to the unity and independence of the Empire at the present hour. In room of these the promised inquiry by the Government in its present condition can be of little sen-ice, and become a positive injury to the Empire. The result of this party inquiry, thrust upon a comparatively unprepared and ignorant people to suit the electioneering convenience of the Government, is a most disheartening prospect. If this is not riding the high party horse for a certain fall, I knoAv nothing of the past history of British politics.

I agree with Lord Rosebery as to Mr Chamberlain's Imperial and patriotic aims, but the openly suggested suspicion of his Government seeking to fall over an Imperial question and not o/er party blunders may find a lodgment in many minds. Mr Chamberlain may yet retrace his steps in dealing with the greatest task of his political life, and by elevating it above party considerations yet grasp himself the reins of Imperial power.

I am, etc.,