A PREVIOUS SPEECH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11507, 13 February 1903, Page 5

A PREVIOUS SPEECH.

Mr Chamberlain's appeal to the Dutch recalls paswigee of <t hriliiar..t speech delivered in Durban on Boxing Day. The Dutch and the English, ho saiii, had been fighting in South Africa shoulder to shoulder in the cause of civilisation against barbarism. They also had been fighting each other in courageous rivalry. He trusted Ujat they would yet mutually gain a triumph, the triumph of loynl respect and appreciation for each other w&ion afforded tiie only solid foundation for the building up of a lasting friendship. When the smoke of war cleared away might they not hope that both sides would be content to forget all that ought not to be rememoered by them, and to seek for unity for the common good. The British and "the Dutch were two proud and kindred races, who had oome to stay in Africa. T'h«y were kindred in origin, kind alike in the great qualities which both throughout a glorious history had consistently honoured—via., love of liberty, freedom, endurance, tenacity of purpose, resolution, rnde<pendence* and eelf-reliance. He continued!:—''Let us see «s Briton* ■worthy of the name that nothing be done to revive the' animosities of the past. We must chow a readiness to welcome our new feUow-Bubjeo{3 who are to enjoy it© privileges of a greater and a freer limpire than tiie world has ever known in the past. We must give them equality of position wish ourselves. But we ask for eomething in return.

"It is with the Dutch that the issue lie*. We thokl out oar hand and tve-ask them to ta3oe it without any axriere pensee, but frankly and in th* spirit in which it is offered. Let ue try whether the two greatest kiixfred races cannot make by fusion a notion stronger in all good qualities than are possessed by either part alone. That is the futoire for South Africa to wihich all true paftccts aspire. Tiiat was the future within the bounds of reasonable- aspiraWe have no cause for desphir in reV gard to 'the difficulties separating us from our .uulek fellow-subjects. They are not so great as those separating Scotland from jymrliiftfl.'i'-'itir"* ''■itrHfiiT.^"**'* ,l ***** :t ** Mt ~'P»»«^»J~ Kill liiilil' \ n T

CABLE NEWS.

in Canada. The question of supremacy once decided* we have agreed to make one great nation -with the greatest advantage that it will benefit both. That, then, is our object. We desire the Dutch and the Englisih in South Africa to become one. Boers have offered to fight side b/ side trith British soldiers in Somaliland. Do Wo not go -well, therefore, to be hopeful? I do not expect that the memories of the past three yeaxe will be effaced from the minds of either Briton or Boer in the t/vrinkling of an but we can hope for a reconciliation bringing grceter prosperity to Africa than it has ever known."

ilr Chamberlain said he had come to South Africa in, a spirit of conciliation, but also in a spirit of firoxneEs. The loss:s which England had suffered, and the sacrifices which-ehe had made must not be .thrown away. He was sura that those* who n&d borne the brunt would not entertain a spirit of vindictive-nese. {Cries of '"No, no.") He remembered that shortly before the conclusion of peace the Imperial Government submitted to the iNatal and Cape Governments the general lines upon which it was believed that peace could be secured. Natal, while approving, begged the Imperial Government not to lose sight of what was constantly in the thoughts and was always expressed in the wishes of all Souwi Africans, namely, federation of the different .States into one homogeneous whole.