SOUTH AFRICA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1820, 28 July 1906, Page 2

SOUTH AFRICA.

DISAPPROVAL OF GOVERNMENT POLICY. I'ItKSS ASSOCIATION —OOPYUIOUT Received !l 09 p.m., duly '27. London, July 27. Mr Fitzpatrick and his colleagues discussed the South African constitution with Lord Elgin. Liberal Unionist members of the House of Commons are urging that the question be treated in no partisan spirit. It is understood that Lord Elgin is unsympathetic. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman refuses to promise to publish Sir West Ridgeway’s report. He announces the Government , policy to day. Mr Fitzpatrick, on behalf of the Transvaal Progressives, appealed to tho sympathy of other British Colonies, reminding them of the great loss of money and life and the disturbance of commerce entailed by war. Now Britain was face to faco with a more critical period in South African history than ever. Since her territory interests extend from Table Bay to Zambesi, any peril to the permanence of British institutions in South Africa meant dismemberment of the Empire. If through the mistaken magnanimity of the British Government the Transvaal be given to a Dutch administration, and Orangia get practical independence, for there would not be five British repre sentatives in the Orangia legislature, then the future of the British flag and of all that British civilisation means would become the merest gamble. Received ‘J.4B p.m., July 27. Mr Fitzpatrick, continuing, stated that every colony in the Empire must be waiting with intense anxiety the details of the dow Transvaal constitution. There was reason to fear that the safeguards would not bo sufficient to provent tho first representative responsible Administration ia a oountry lately won by the sword from being controlled by Kruger’s o'.d reactionary Ministers, who denied oqual rights to all white men.- It was impossible to believe that outside oolonies would not try to influeccs the British Government in order to make the Transvaal and Organia absolutely seoure to the Crown through British administration. Tho various colonists could assist in forcing the Liberal Government, while establishing equal rights, to demand British administration.