FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10692, 16 May 1906, Page 4

FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA.

LORD MILNER'S TIMELY WARNING. Lord Milner* has an interesting article m tho April number of the National Review on tliat "vast problem"— the situa. (ion m South Africa. "Tlio South African question," he says, "has now got into the ruts of party. That is tho worst thing that could have befallen South Africa or Great Britain. "In order to retain South Africa, we must retain the affection of the South African British, or at least of a considerable number of them. And m order to do that we must understand them, Aye must be able to realise their circumstances, and tlieir point of view. "When once self-government is granted, it would, be vain, it would even be detrimental to the British cause m South Africa, to interfere m th c local political struggle. "What we have to realise is that, however deep the underlying issue, the everyday fight will be over questions of detail—such as the disposal of a tract of Government land, the composition of school committees, the qualifications- for the Civil Service, etc. "In such a case let Downing street only raise a finger— not that I think k Avill dream of doing so — and a strong current of local feeling will immediately be set flowing against the party which has Downing .street for an ally." Lord Milner thinks the air will clear m time. "In the meanwhile much harm has been done, and if things are not to go from bad to worse we must make haste to revise our judgment and alter our ntti. tude towards our fellow countrymen m South Africa." Mr Alfred Lyttelton, the ex-Colonial Secretary, has also an article m thc National Review on South Africa. He says that the Government, Avithin three weeks of taking office, committed themselves to a jwlicy Avhich. m the Orange River Colony, Avill inevitably pass power without check into the hands of the Boers, and m the Transvaal will have results as to which the Prime Minister has pitifully confessed his woeful lack of information.