THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 12

THE EMPIRE.

PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE. In viow of tho action of tho Transvaal Government in getting rid of a large number of Civil servants of British origin, particularly officers and members of tho South African Constabulary, the following extract from a letter, signed by tho Primo Minister (Mr. Botha), the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Smuts), and tho Attorney-General (Mr. J. do Villiers), during their election campaign, is worth recalling:— "Statements are made from time to 1 timo on tho platform and in tho Press to the effect that if Het Volk wero to get into powor it would dismiss tho present Civil servants wholesale, and replace them by men who had been in tho Civil Servico of the late Republican _ Government, and also that the present Civil servants would be compelled, on pain of dismissal, to learn Dutch within a limited timo. "On behalf of the Head Committco of Het Vol):, wo give theso and similar statements an unqualified denial. Tho spirit in which our party approaches tho treatment of these and similar questions is sot forth in tho following paragraphs of our programme :—

■ "1. The solution of all outstanding questions of a racial character (such as those of language, education, and land settle-•-ment) in a spirit of justice, moderation, and mutual forbearance. "2. Simplicity and efficiency of administration, and recruitment in future of tho Civil Service from tho residents of the Transvaal or South Africa, under provisions calculated to bring tho entiro service into more sympathetic touch with overy section of the population." This letter was dated February 8. Thero can be little doubt that tho statements of which tho signatories complain had their origin in the following remark, made by Mr. Smuts in a speech which ho delivered in Pretoria on March 23, 1906, and the truth of which has been attested by subsequent events :— '■'". . . .It will bo tho work of Hot Vo]k to try its best for these Dutch exCiril servants now out 'of billets. They must bo put back in their old positions.'' ' THE NEWFOUNDLAND VIVENDI. St. John's, October 4. The "Evening Tologram" publishes Mr. Richard. Jebb's letter to a London. morning newspaper of September 17, and a scathing leading articlo-thereon, in which is quoted tho-correspondence between Sir James Wintor and tho Hon. Charles Tupper, Canadian Minister,of Fisheries, dated December,-1891, in which Sir James Winter assumed authority for.a biting article in tho "Evening Herald," condemnatory of privileges, then granted to Americans, similar to tiioso now conveyed to them by the present modus vivendi. , Tho correspondence is taken from a Canadian Bluo-Baok relativo to Canada and Newfoundland, published by Parliament in the session of 1892. In view of this correspondence, it will be difficult for Sir James Winter to rcconcilo his statement to tho London nowspapor in question and his previous expression of opinion. Sir James Winter now says, in tho quotation published herej that _ "the real substantial public interests which aro at stako are entirely different from tho legal points, that are involved in tho modus vivendi between tho Imperial Government and the United States —such as tho uso of purso-seiuos, the question of Sunday fishing, and tho employment of Newfoundland fishermen by American firms. These questions aro as far removed as. anything possibly can he from the substantial public _ interests that aro affected. . . The feeling in tho colony is ono of total indifference to, or even ignorance of, the wholo question, or, among a very small fraction of tho population, of strong antagonism to the line of policy adopted by Siri.Robertv.Bo'nd;,!.. By the latter part of that statement, I mean that Sir Robert Bond's course' of action, and legislation operate directly against tho personal interests and business of those who a'ro engaged in the herring "fishery of tho west coast of Newfoundland.

"There is another mis-statement which has found currency. It is that .tho Supremo Court of the colony has decided against the Imperial Government on tho question of the modus rivendi. ■ That statement is entirely untrue. Tho modus vivendi was not brought beforo the court at all." So much for Sir James Winter's latest views.,. !

■ Sir Robert. Bond's statement beforo tiie Imperial -Conference, that tho Supreme Court of Newfoundland had decided that the modus vivendi could not .override tho local statutes of tho colony is,absolutory correct. Tho judgment of tho Chief Justice was as follows:—'.Tho.■ attempted engagement *of theso men, Crane and Dubois, by this foreign fishing vessel (under tho modus' vivendi) was absolutely void, being in contravention of tho statute law of this colony." , It will ho remembered.that the modus vivendi was intended to over-ride that statuto law by permitting Americans to ship local fishermen. LAND FOR THE SWAZIS. Tho promulgation of tho Government proclamation defining .the proportionate areas to be allotted to Europeans and natives has taken place. Mr. Coryndon,, the administw tor, read statements giving the outlines of tho proclamation. ,Ho first addressed tho Europeans, explaining the terms of settle-, ment, and ho then intimated that, owing to tho. danger anticipated by the Imperial authorities that tho rights of tho natives might bo endangered by competition and conflicting interests among tho concessionaries, a partition of. tho rights held over surface areas had been decided upon. Conccssionnairs would be required to surrender one-third of tho area held by them without compensation, and tho selection of tho area to bo surrendered would bo made by tho High Commissioner, from whoso decision thero would bo no appeal. ■ When more than one-third was required to bo given up, compensation would bo paid in respect of tho area surrendered over and abovo that proportion.

Mr. Coryndon went on to say that Europeans holding leases for 99 years would be entitled to a freehold. The land set free for exclusive .uso of the Swazis would provide for a reasonable expansion by tho tribe and graves and kraals-of tho paramount chiefs and.principal indunas would not -to disturbed. .Minoral right would not bo interfered with. Tho portion of tho proclamation addressed to tho natives concluded as. follows:—"Tho King sees into the future, and knows tho decision best for., his children i who cannot. •■ It is his final order." Mr. Coryndon appealed for tho co-operation of the whites in carrying ou tho terms of-tho proclamation; Tho responsible concessionaries consider the scheme to bo an equitablo one, and the natives also, display satisfaction,

. UNREST'IN INDIA. _. .'. . Calcutta, October 3. fliero was serious rioting hero last night. A meeting'was held in Beadon-squaro in honour of thb-students who were recently punished for assaulting tho polico, and the speakers urged their hearers to establish self-government and moot opposition by force. Ijitcnso; excitement prevailed among the crowd, and ■ it was not long before stones woro thrown at tho polico who were present to keep order. . ' , Tho polico bore this patiently for a wliilo until at last tho order was given to disperse tho mooting. Tho mob resisted, but was driven out of tho square Tho strugglo was renewed in tho streets in tho vicinity, and showers of stones woro (lung from tho roofs of tho houses at tho police. Reinforcements woro summoned, and thoso woro also stoned. Numbers of hooligans joined tho crowd] assaulting anybody who oamo in thoir way and looting tho shops. By ton o'clock the disturbances oxtonded from tho Fauzdary Balakhana to tho Shnm Bazaar, and all traffic was, suspended! The stroot lamps woro smashed by tho mob.

Tho Bongali paper, "BandoMataram/' declares that scores of native policomon joined tho hooligans after divesting themselves of their uniforms in order to avoid recognition, and that the stono throwing was so incessant that tho police fled in all directions. At midnight all was quiet, but an hour or two later the crowds again gathered ind

broko a number of streot lamps. All tho police from tho six northern stations wero called out, and encountered further showers of stones. Tho Bengali pa7)ers publish extraordinary accounts as to tho extent of casualties among the police, and they oxtol tho courage of the mob. As a mnttor o( -fact, howovor, tho actual number of injured among tho policemen is forty.

Calcutta, October 4. Tho disturbances wore renewed hero last night. In various streets of northern Calcutta numbers of students and hooligans collected on tho roofs of tho houses and in tho roadway and pelted the tramway cars and passers-by witli brickbats. Many cars were damaged and sovoral conductors hurt. The Europeans in tho cars were especially singled out for attack. The Bengali papers this morning throw the whole blamo for tho riots on tho polico, and publish extraordinary statements regarding alleged polico brutality., Tho "Amrita Bazar Patrika' 1 says that tho municipal sweepers looted tho shops in hundreds in tho presence of constables, and asks: "Is it possiblo that this situation has boon created in order to throw discredit on Mr. Keir Hardie?"

Tho "Bandc Mataram" heads its'account of tho riots, "Armenian Horrors in Calcutta," and says : —"Tho Armenian and Bulgarian horrors palo into insignificance before the barbarities committed by tho polico in the Indian quarters." The journal adds:—"All houses and shops within a mile of Boadonsquare wero. locked up, and the silence was only broken by tho dying shrieks of the victims of tho cowardly polico." The samo papor speaks of heaps of "mutilated bodies of quite innocent men gathered on tho gory footpath," and concludes with an appeal to the people to rise to the occasion and "save tho honour of our women." Not a single arrest was made, owing to tho rapidity with which the rioters moved from placo to place. The excitoment caused by tho rioting last night has been increased by a striko of hackney carriage drivers, who resent the new municipal regulations. Tho strikers aro picketing the men still at work, and some cabs . have been destroyed. A number of drivers created a' disturbance outside tho municipal offices and abused tho European registrar, who was struck on tho mouth with.a brick. RANCHING IN RHODESIA. Tho concessions mado 'by tho Chartorod Company to tho commercial and farming communities) as a result of the presentation of a long list required reforms to tho directors of tho company now hero, include tho granting of commercial facilities, tho improvement of tho agricultural administration, and the projected demarcation of a great stock route, two miles wide, towards tho south, on which cattle could bo exported. Tho-aim of the Chartered Company in laying out such a route is to encourage extensive ranching.

Tho directors are also considering tho appointment of a resident commercial representative in Rhodesia with extraordinary oxecutivo power to dispose of many matters which havo hitherto been referred to London. This appointment will put an end to vexatious delays, which aro at present tho source of considerable discontent among tho settlers. The directors havo undertaken to foster native labour, and havo agreed to emulate tho Asiatic restriction policy of the neighbouring colonies. Production 'on a larger scale has hitherto been checked by the inaccessibility of the markets, and it is asserted by tho sottlers that if the company acted as middlemen, an unfailing market would bo assured, tending to increased production. _ Tho proposed appointment of a commercial representative in Rhodesia is regarded as a stop in tho right direction. Tho directors are considering a proposal, to link Rhodesia and tho Transvaal, via l-Lobatsi, to tho north of Mafoking and Zcorust.

Tho openingof such a route would involve considerable disturbance of tho Capo and other traffic, and Dr.- Jameson, in tho course of ono of tho discussions, expressed the opinion that tho project was financially impracticable at present. Moreover, tho Cape, ho pointed out, was determined to retain tho traffic. It ha.d already counteracted tho reductions mado on tho Boira route by reducing the, rates on its own railways. ; ■ ''' " .

The directors have also declared that they havo no intention of artifically creating business, by manipulating rates. Tho chief reform measures which tho directors havo hold over for consideration are tho introduction of individual land titles and tho promotion of colonisation. They are prepared to meet tho wishes of the settlors' delegates on both of these subjects. , :

THE TRANSVAAL SEAL. Incidental to tho sale by auction of the late. ox-President Kruger's Government's official seal, Mr. llutley, who had chargo x of the "treasuro," said:— "I havo no knowledge of tho valuo of tho seal. It appears to be genuine, and came to us in the ordinary course of business. The letter which accompanied it said that tho vendor was a quartermaster and lieutenant of the Imperial Yeomanry, and that ho had also served in tho South African Constabulary. ' Ho explained that ho had taken it from a Boer whilo tho latter was attempting to bury it on tho evening of the day when Pretoria surrendered to Lord Roberts'." Tho soal itself is vouched for by authorities as being tho greatest relic of tho South African war, and its disappearance at cho time of tho surrender is supposed to have been the subject of much mystery. It is formed of a circular steel matrix, engraved in the centre with tho arms and motto of tho Ropublic, surrounded by the inscription, "Gqvernniont Zuid Africaansche Republish." Sir Richard Solomon, Agent-General for tho Transvaal Government, said that he had not heard of the seal being for sale, and could not, of course, say whether it lyas '.ho only official soal of tho lato Government, as his appointment only dated from- the inception or tho now Constitution. Sir Richard i)dded that ho was much intorostod in tho matter, and would take an early opportunity of inspecting tho seal. KIPLING IN CANADA. Mr. Rudyard Kipling, who will be the guost of Earl Grey for two days, has already made two short speeches at Canadian clubs, ono at Winnipeg and tho other at Vancouver. To tho former ho said that he realised there tho spirit of an, assured nationhood. Ho found there a peoplo in their own land whose hoartsprings went down deep, and who would bo trustees for tho nation. At Vancouver ho remarked:—

"If I had not tho great faith I havo in our breed and grit, and in our raco, I would tremble for your responsibilities, but I believe in you, who havo come through the mountain passes already, as I beliovo in tho great throng that is still on its way through those passos. Hero is a fertilising stream that no forces can check, though they may strivo for a littlo time to delay it. You have a rightful pride in your city: my pride is in your destiny. "Tho head of this great army has scarcely emerged through the passes, but in a short time it must come through in a flood. It is you who aro responsible for handling that army. I beg you to bolieve that if I have not touched certain problems, it is not becanso I underrate tho importanco of tho problems which confront you. I havo lived too long among men overwhelmed by problems darker than those which confront you, and I havo seon them borne down by these problems, but I havo never, known thorn to bo overcomo by thom."