THE TASMANIAN PROPOSAL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10777, 3 October 1900, Page 4

THE TASMANIAN PROPOSAL.

We congratulate Mr Seddon on his good sense in refusing to ally himself with the Tasmanian proposal to send a joint telegram from the Australian Premiers "oon- " gratulating Mr Chamberlain on the success " of the British and colonial forces in South " Africa, and expressing" a hope that 'the " electors of Great Britain will, by an em- " phatic vote, insist that the fruits of victory " shall be effectually secured to tlie nation," etc. It is an extraordinary proposal, on the face of it. 'Mr Chamberlain is not the Commander-in-Chief in South Africa; he is not even the Minister for War at Home, and we have not heard of his performing any deeds of valour on the veldt. Why then should he in particular be congratulated on the success of the war? The whole thing is a little ridiculous, and most decidedly improper. The object was evidently to give Mr. Chamberlain and his side a party advantage in -the pending elections, and no colonial premier ought to allow himself to ba made a cat's paw of for any such work. Mr. Seddon's own conduct in regard to the war has, on the whole, been really very correct. At a time when, perhaps, the English Government wanted a little stiffening in their diplomacy, he cabled expressing a hope that they would stand firm against any attempts at intervention or any suggestion that the independence of the- Republics should be restored. Hβ has also cahled to Lord Roberts congratulating him on tis victories—and there is no good reason to doubt that these victories were achieved by Lord Roberta and not by Mr. Chamberlain. In these circumstances Mr. Seddon has really done all that it is neces-

sary to do, and we are sincerely relieved that 'he did not agree to the Taamanian Premiers fatuous suggestion.