THE LIBERALS AND NATAL.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12507, 21 May 1906, Page 7

THE LIBERALS AND NATAL.

THE EXCUSE FOR INTERFERENCE.

THE ATTACK ON LORD MILNER,

(mm oub own corrbspondeht.)

LONDON, April 7

Tlio Government's excuse for its interference with the execution of the Natal murderers was that they had not been fully informed of tho circumstances. Tho simple but complete answer is that the Colonial Office had been in possession all along of the whole information needed. That is not my mere personal allegation., but the absolute admission in the Heuso of Commons of tho Under Secretary for the Colonies who is the sole representative in tho Lower House of the Colonial Office. Mr Winston Churchill actually read out to tho Hou.se of Commons the day before Lord Elgin's interference was known, a cable message from the Governor of Natal conveying, albeit briefly, the full information that the Imperial Government had any right to expect or claim! This vital point seems to have been overlooked by some New Zealand critics, and has b«?n .studiously ignored by most of the .Ministerial supporters here.

Further, this interference m the domestic affairs of a self governing colony was the third of three provocative steps regarding South Africa. First came the offensive declaration of the Under Secretary for the Colonies, Mr Winston Churchill, that even when full representative Government should be granted to the Transvaal, he and his Government would reserve the right to veto any measures the Transvaal Government might pass that were contrary to public ••det-jney." This insult to the new colony might perhaps have prepared the public mind for what wais to follow. But we are beginning to knew our Winston Churchill and to regard his childish pranks with calm contempt. Then, however, came the cowardly and ungrateful attack on Lord Milner by a supporter of tho Government which Ministers, instead of meeting with tho honest aixT straightforward negative that it demanded, merely shelved by

means of an amendment little lees offeii&ive and unfair that the original motion. But the vote of thanks and recognition jjaeeed by an overwhelming majority of the House of Lords to Lord Mibier for his service*? to tho Empire was erected with enthusiasm by the general public. Lard Elgin's paltry attempt to shelve it by the "previous question" only served to sink t-ho Minktry of which he is a member, still l-awer in tlie world's esteem.

. A very powerful movement has been organised to recognifeo in the most prominent manner jxx-sibie t'he great value of Ixnd Miilner's seixic*e to the Empire. This Li l>elng planned in such a way as to neutralise in. the most marked degree th? attacks made in the ol Commons upou Lard Miln-er. Tho Littk' EngiandcjTs in Parliament are furious, tut fortunately aro also helpless, and there is little doubt that the result will be worthy of the subject and of the occasion. Not content witn the misc'aief already done in South Africa, a Labour member named Macdouaid brought up the matter again, when, in the course cf -.the debate, the executions of.the Kaffir munk're.rs wcro characterised by one Radical member as "biujd'thirsty murdeu-i! M It doesn't matter, you see, from tli£» viewpoint of that party, how many British poisons aro murdered wo long as t'he enemies of this country do not suffer.

out ako that the natives were actually executed before the Privy Council had delivered judgment, therefore had it recognised the appeal when the natives were already liead, a grave-situation would havo been created, and a most .sensational scandal might have orison. Even now there will bo more heard of the case.