SOUTH AFRICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7380, 5 February 1902, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

. <• — . MR RHODES' SUGGESTION FOR , A "LASTING PEACE." In a contribution to the London Falegraph, Mr Rhodes, writing from Assiiout, in Egypt, on the 3rd Dec, ] states his views as to what should be done after the war to promote the future settlement; of the country and last- c ing peace in South Africa. ( "We must bear in mind," he writes, i " that the prisoners will return with most embittered feelings, and if, as in the past, they remain isolated from us, who at present only occupy the towns and work the mines, there is no chance of '. our being brought together. The only ; hope for a change of feeling is the intermixture of the two races on the soil, following the same pursuits, having the same interests, and daily exchanging soil intercourse. This is not merely a theory of mine, but a theory which haß heen subjected to practical experiments, and with the most satisfactory results." Mr Rhodes thinks that as many of the Dutch on their return will trek north, even to Mossamedes, there will be no difficulty as to acquiring the land. It would be inadvisable to offer farms to soldiers who are inexperienced in farming pursuits, and since the number required is limited, he is sure it will be forthcoming from the Regulars, Yeomanry, Volunteers, and Colonists. A " clear and clean " sale of land to the emigrants at a low rate of interest, with a sinking fund, is suggested, the expenditure to be made a debt of the Transvaal, " which means that obligation will fall on the much-abused capitalist," who, Mr Rhodes feels sure, " will make no objeotion." Mr Rhodes thinks that if the Transvaal accepted this emigration loan, the Imperial Government might fix a smaller sum than is generally named as the Transvaal contribution to the war expenditure. Writing to Mr Arnold Foster, Mr Rhodes says :— " If you undertook the obligation of settling 2000 men, the liability would not exceed eight millions."