Established 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Wednesday, July 9, 1902. "A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO DANGERS."

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 158, 9 July 1902, Page 2

Established 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. Wednesday, July 9, 1902. "A CHOICE BETWEEN TWO DANGERS."

The opinion of the London Standard that Mr Chamberlain's refusal to suspend the Cape Constitution is "a choice between two dangers" seems to us to exactly hib off the awkward position in which the Colonial Office and the British Government have been pLice'd. Rightly or wrongly, a large and very influential section at the Cape fear that there will be a substantial Afrikander majority in the nexfc Cape Parliament, and that the tone of the Assembly will be strongly pro-Dutch, and, inferentially, its action anti-Bri-tish in character. Consequently, petitions have been sent to the Home Government, praying that the Constitution may be suspended for a term of from three to five years. The answer to these petitions has now been given by Mr Chamberlain, who openly expresses his opinion that to grant the prayer of the petitioners would "produce discontent and agitation instead of allaying race hatred." Pie considers that the Cape Parliament ought first to be called together to pass an Act of indemnity, and deal with the question of "registration'I—by which, we suppose, he means " franchise"—with the hope of effecting registration. In a word or two, Mr Chamberlain favours the policy of "trusting the Dutch" rather than a policy of coercion. It may be argued that the Cape loyalists are much more likely to arrive at a correct estimate of the position and future attitude of the Dutch population than is Mr Chamberlain ; but, on the other hand, such a step as suspension of ]bhe constitution of a British self--governing colony must naturally be very repugnant to a British Government, and we cannot help sympathising with Mr Chamberlain's evident desire that every possible alternative should first be tried before recourse is had to so desperate and dangerous an expedient as suspending the Constitution. Mr Chamberlain's decision has, however, it is worth noticing, been followed by a big meeting, held in the constituency represented by Sir Gordon Sprigg, the Cape Premier, at which, the British Government's answer notwithstanding, a large majority persisted in declaring that the suspension of the Constitution is necessary. Time will prove whether the Cape loyalists have o* have not exaggerated the danger of mischief making by the Dutch party. Meanwhile, as the London Times points out, the Cape Parliament will have an opportunity of passing legislation dealing with the franchise and other important questions affecting both races, and the votes and speeches of the opposing parties will speedily show how far the misgivings which prompted the petitions were or were not well founded. If the British Government's " choice between the two dangers " results in a Dutch majority passing, or attempting to pass legislation strongly antagonistic to British interests, the drastic remedy of suspension of the Constitution can then be applied. But we hope sincerely that the Dutch will properly appreciate the "generous confidence," to use the Standard's ex-

prcssion, which has been placed in them by the British Government, and will cordially co-operate with thtir fellow members of British descent and sympathies in bringing about a, new era of racial friendship rathei? than racial hatred. The result of Mr Chamberlain's weighty decision will be

watched for with no small anxiety, not only in South Africa, but throughout the Empire.