LONDON CHAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1972, 7 January 1907, Page 4

LONDON CHAT.

Tl-115 PRINCJCSS 110YAL. ' LONDON, November 16. 1 Among our royalties tlm current i week lias been occupied in tlio entertainment by our .King and Queen of their daughter, Queen Maud of Norway, and her husband, King Haakon —otherwise “Hocku” according to himself. But I deal with the Norwegian royalties olsowhoro. A painful rumor is current regarding the lioaljtli of the Princess Royal, better known as the Duchess of Fifo. It has long boon known that she suitors from serious ill-health arid that she has undergone one operation, if not several. There has boon the customary courtier talk about appendicitis and about the certainty ol an early convalescence. But weeks and months pass by, and still the convalcsconco does not come, while rumor steadily assumes a moro and more sinister shape. Its latest phase is a whispered report that the terrible taint which is known to exist in tlio Royal blood, that of cancer, after moro than once threatening other members of the family in tlio direct strain, has manifested itself definitely in tlio case of the presont Princess Royal, as it did ultimately in the previous holder of that rank, tlio Empress Frederick of Germany. I cannot of course vouch for the accuracy of this painful rumor, but it comes to mo through what appears a trustworthy channel, and I am afraid it may bo only too well founded.

CHINESE ON THE RAND. Last evening the House of Commons underwent the infliction of a long debate on an essentially unsavoury—not to say foul—subject, viz., the'immorality of the Chineso coolies in South African “compounds.” The matter arose in a somewhat curious way. Information had reached the Government that gravo conditions ol vice existed in the South African Chinese compounds. They appointed a commission of investigation, presided over ey Buclunh —a son or iVri justice Bucknill. Ho duly reported, substantially confirming tho existence ol the immorality complained of, but not the allegations as to knowledge of what occurred on the part of tlie South African authorities, declaring on the contrary that the objectionable practices were carried on in secrecy. Ministers were asked to produce the Bucknill report, but refused on tho ground (1) that it was confidential, and (2) that it would bo useless unless accompanied by the evidence, which is utterly unprintable. Last night there was the ' usual spectacle of a great crowd of Ministerialists supporting wliat amounted to a vote op censure on the Government. The adjournment was moved by Mr Lehmann, who called upon the Government to remove tho evil by excluding the Chinese. Tho answer of tho Government, through Mr Churchill, was that the present Administration was not to blame; that the fault lay with Mr Lyttelton, the late Colonial Secretary, who must have known what would be tho consequences of so many thousand Chinese living in celibacy. The retort came that if Mr. Lyttelton and thp late Government must have known, the present Government, Lord Elgin, and Mr CliurchiU must have known also; and yet, since they have been at tlio Colonial office, 16,000 more Chinese have been allowed to enter the Transvaal to increase tho evil. At the start an endeavor was made to have the House clear of “strangers” including the journalists. But it was defeated Oy a majority of about 20 to 1. Tho speeches of Air. Lehmann and Air. E. A. \V. Alason, who brought tho unwholesome condition of tnc compounds boi'ore the attention of the House, were moderate and in good taste. But when Air. Churchill rose, he bullied his own friends who had seen the report for talking about it. Ho snapped at a judgment being formed on extracts, but declined to produce tho whole report. He scoffed at archbishops and Dishops taking a belated interest in the matter. Pie threw all responsibility on Air. Lyttelton, whom he invited to defend himself. But when iur Alfred Lyttelton rose —tbe Colonial Secretary of the time when Chinese labor was instituted in South Africa —he took up the various counts of the indictments ouo by one. It was no doubt, ho admitted satirically, very wicked to bring these Chinese slaves of their own free will into the horrible slavery of South Africa, from which they refused to be allowed to escape even on the offer of cheap, personally conducted trips back to China. lie pointed out that he was called on “to answer the charge of bringing into the compounds of South Africa a lot of vice that lies in a report that has been shown to_ my political opponents and. kept hidden from mysen.” Several Radical speakers attacked the Government. Sjr Hepry Camp-bell-Bannerman made a wretchedly feeble answer and in tho end the question was “talked out,” But the discussion has let in a flood of light upon the condition of tho “ Great Liberal Party.” The persons—l refer to use that term, for I cannot call them “ladies” or even respectable women—who had tickets for the Ladies’ Gallery of the House of Commons last night, when tlm moral conditions prevailing in the Chinese compounds' in the 'Transvaal were discussed, were informed of the nature of the debate, but four women said they would like to stay, and did so for a considerable time. That their presence might not be noticed, they suggested that the lights should be lowered —a suggestion which was not complied with. .Happily owing to the discretion exercised by the various speakers, the banquet of filthy garbage anticipated by those foul-minde.d females was not furthcoming. IN FAVOR OF PEACE.

An important speech delivered on Wednesday by the German Chancellor l'rince Jiuiow, has set all Europe talking. It is ostensibly a most satisfactory declaration in favor of peace and of mutual good feeling among European nations. Ho admitted that a closer rapprochement with 1< ranee was, wit]] the existing feeling in that country, impossible, for reasons of past events, ’but good rcJotions between Germany and England wore perfectly compatible with the entente cordiale between England and France. There were no really deep political differences dividing Germany and England. Ho ridiculed the suspicions which had been excited by the increase of the German Navy and contended that Germany had as much right to build ships as any

other nation. He admitted that the German Fleet could never equal the English, and declared that they was no ambition to achieve such equality; Germany only desired such a lleet as was needed to afford sufficient protection to her public interests at homo and abroad. “we recognise,” he said, “without, arriero pensee the position which England has long ago won throughout the world.” This is very nice,hut some rude French journals' have. been pointing out that on two previous occasions when the Chancellor uttered similar sentiments, some unfriendly act toward England or France, or both, immediately followed. Ho jn this case they hint absit omen I MUSIC.

A musical event of absolutely firstclass rank has occurred this week. It is the production in Germany of a

Grand Opera by an English lady, and its reception with' tremendous enthusiasm; the composer is Miss Ethel Smythe, who has already given to the world two admirable operas, and who now is declared by compelout critics to have surpassed not only herself, but also every other composer of the age, whatever his oilier nationality. The opera, which is entitled “Strandrecht,” was produced at Leipsig, Germany’s greatest musical centre, and a local critic says: “All considerations of the composer’s nationality were forgotten, and there was hearty and sincere applause, which rose to such a degree of enthusiasm at the end that Miss Smythe had to appear no fewer than eight times—a compliment very rarely paid in Leipsig.” Referring to the new opera the critic of the Times says : “Here is a very remark-' able work; it were small praise to describe it as the most powerful production ever accomplished by a female composer. It is much more | than this, for it is not only complete- I ly free from the influence of any other music—even the most ' pre-

judicial critics aro hound to admit this freedom —but tho power with which tho great situations are handled; the insight with which the characters are individualised, and the skilful treatment which appear on every page, make it one of the very few modern operas which must count among the great things in art.” This is indeed high praise, hut it is quite corroborated by the most cultured German opinion.—N.Z. Herald correspondent.