DANGER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 116, 16 May 1906, Page 8

DANGER.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The man who points out danger lis generally regarded as an alarmist, and sometimes even as an enemy of his country. I run the risk of the terrible inuendo. There are danger signals around England now, but fortunately they are. not fraught with any immediate peril. Our present King, with his natural tact, has clinched alliances with France and Spain, and has strengthened the conIstanfc friendship of Italy, while Russia ! seeiri3 to be veering round towards an understanding with England. Then there is, of course, the -Japanese alliance. These are all danger signals. The weak point in England's armour is this, that., having so vast an empire to manage, the English Government is constantly driven to adopt expedients for checking disaffection and enmity in several parts of the world at one and the same time. This is more so now than ever. The numerous alliances mentioned do not come into play in Imperial dealings with disaffection. Now, suppose that the agents of hostile Powers, who are always busy in fomenting . disorder, were able to contrive ris- . ings in various parts hi England's Em- '' pire simultaneously, and suppose further that a general European war ensued at the same time, then the task of an English Government would be Herculean. It is known that white men are instigating the Zulus to a general rebellion. South : Africa is a bitter pill for England. The Northern tribes of India are quite unfriendly. There is a little trouble in Borneo. Turkey is behaving in a most unusual manner. The whole Mahommedan f ection of the -world is in a simmer. Foreign agents are actively plotting in London itself. Who are the white men that contrive trouble for England in South Africa and in other places? Perhaps that does not matter. Let us hope there will be no bungling when the time comes. The mistake made by many Englishmen is the despising of subject Taces. This brought about the Indian Mutiny. Some Englishmen even despise all foreigners, a grave blunder, liable to hit back at themselves. When danger is ahead, and it is quite understood that it will probably arrive, active preparation should commence at once. All rebellions should l>c suppressed fith a firm, strong hand. No wavering, no parleying, no'hesitation should ba permissible. Then steady, persistent efforts should commence to forestall that danger. There is no kismet in the affairs of an empire. The day of reckoning arrives through bad action and inaction. I repeat that danger exists, jiot; only in South and North Africa, but in India, Malacca, Persia, and partly (even in Canada. Who prefers to shut hia eyes and bury his head in the sand?—l am, etc., MAURICE R. KTyf^jffQ.