SOUTH AFRICA.

Waikato Times, Volume LVII, Issue 8080, 17 December 1906, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

THE TRANSVAAL CONSTITOTION. SPEECH BY LORD MILNER. LONDON, December 15. Lord Milner, speaking at Manchester, feared the premature responsible government in the Transvaal j would result in an economic catastrophe which would brand the new '• legislature, which was expected to deal with agreeable consciousness with a policy that was liable to the Imperial Veto. The only hope was that the desperateneßs of the situation would sober the Transvaal politicians. He personally believed the consolidation of the Empire was the highest of all political objects. Britain would be unable to remain a world powej if she stands alone, It was wrong to treat the colonies the same as a friendly V foreign nation. It was better to use the growing desire for Imperial unity to counteract the formidable foroes of disintegration. He would nevtr forgive himself for neglecting to suggest that the colonies who co-operat-ed ought to have been consulted regarding the settlement of South Africa during the period of tutelage. He hoped Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman would preside at the Imperial Conference. It was only Britain's reluctance to participate that prevented reciprocal preferential treatment rapidly permeating the Empire. It was most unfortunate if Britain's unsympathetic attitude conveyed the impression that the United Kingdom was also averse to any idea of preferential trade between the different parts of the Empire. Mere discouragement might not deter tie colonies from continuing preferencn to British goods but if the colonies wsTe told; "Go your way; we will never dream or closer relations with you than others," the probable result would be to kill a good deal more than preferential trade. Other nations would gladly accept the reciprocal advantages which Britain rejected. The Empire might resist even that strain for a time b>nt it would be a fatal blunder to try it. It would be an immense step if regular consultations were established between the colonies and the Motherland with a permanent consultative committee, when the conference was not sitting.