PRO-BOER LITERATURE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 April 1901, Page 4

PRO-BOER LITERATURE.

The Garbled Canadian Letter.

The methods of tho Boor Conciliation Committe continue (writes the London correspondent of the Melbourne Argus) to be one of the topits of tho day. Lieutenant Morrison, editor of the Ottawa Citizen, served at the Cape, and wrote a long story of his experiences. The New York Sun published garbled extracts eliminating every phrase which discredited the Boers. For instance, Lieutenanant Morrison wrote that it was revolting to witness the farm burning until they saw tho roofs blown off by concdalod ammunition, and then ho could not help approving the policy. The Sun refrained from publishing the sentences about tho concealed ammunition and the writer’s approval. There were a dozen other instances of garbling as had as this, and a perfectly fair record was tints turned into a pro-Boer atrocity screed. The Manchester Guardian reproduced the version of the New York Sun, making a deal of capital out of it to the discredit of the British commanders ; and the pro-Boer Conciliation Committee published the story of the Manchester Guardian in one of its stop-thc-war leaflets.

The Daily Chronicle last week reproduced the leaflet and the original Ottawa letter side by side. Mr. Balfour’s attention had previously been called to the subject in the House of Commons, and lie bad promised to enquire into Lieutenant Morrison’s “ charges.” This undertaking was cabled as a piece of news to Canada, and led Lieutenant Morrison to wire back to England an explanation and origin of the history of this remarkable forgery. Then began a series of recantations. Tbe Manchester Guardian published the full and true version of the Morrison letter. The Daily News coolly remarked that now “ Lieutenant Morrison’s letter had been explained away by the author,” etc., the Conciliation Committee’s defence was put forth by Mr. Swinney, the Secretary, who considered that his committee was “ perfectly innocent. They would, however, withdraw their leaflet,

and print the true version in full. Ho considered it was all the fault of the New York Sun, upon which the iali Mall Gazette remarks These proBoers arc insistent upon absolute proof. They will not take the word of Sir A. Milner or a British General; it must be proved to the hilt, but lot them got hold of what seems to be evidence against any British soldier, and there is no such caution, but they rush with the ‘ stream of facts.’ ” Of the eight members of the Literature Committee who selected this forgery for the Conciliation leaflet, four arc ladies. The other principal member is Mr. Molteno, the publisher of an interview with Sir Alfred Milner, which Sir Alfred repudiated. [We have learned by cable that the New York Sun dismissed its Ottawa correspondent over this matter. ]