South Africa.

Manawatu Herald, 17 February 1903, Page 2

South Africa.

APPEAL FOR RACIAL UNION. In his Graliarastown speech Mr Chamberlain said that our*enemies were in process of becoming our fast friends. The position of the Cape in the matter, Mr Chamberlain added, was not altogether satisfactory, but selfgoverning people had the remedy in their own hands. It was unsatisfactory to find that animosities which ware dying in the new colonies were intensified at the Cape, which ought to lend its powerful influence towards conciliation. It was said the Bond there sought things he would not concede or ask others to give. Continuing, the Minister said he was not to be led away by the spurious pretensions of any section. If the Dutch would loyally accept the situation he would trust them, but he would not if at any moment they professed a desire for reconciliation, and the next spoke in commendation of crime, and talked of forgiving those who had been disloyal to their king and country. If rebels who might have been misled were ready to say there should be a new chapter of peace and reconciliation, the Government would meet them halfway, but there must be no persecuting or boycotting, lie again appealed for union. Sir Gordon Sprigg- was absent, being warned that his presence would cause trouble. The “ Standard ” warns disloyalists that it will be easy to make Durban and Delagoa ports for the Rand, the Cape thus relapsing into agricultural insignificance. IN CAPE COLONY.

Mr Chamberlain, speaking at a Inncheon at Port Elizabeth, said the political situation in Cape Colony \yas worthy of a comic opera—the

British suspected Dutch loyalty and the Dutch suspected the British of designs, to undermine their liberties. A change of customs was, he thought, the best solution. They should mutually banish suspicions, forget racial distinctions, and be content with citizenship of a united empire The Situation, said Mr Chamberlain, was so complicated, the divisions so acute, that he felt the risk of doing harm was greater than the chance of doing good. The audience rose and frantically cheered the speaker. Mr Chamberlain was accorded a mixed reception at Graaf Rginet. The loyalists were enthusiatic, the Afrikanders sullen. Many of the latter, who Were parading the streets with rebel badges, did not respond to Mr Chamberlain’s salutations. The Bond leaders explained that this was due to ignorance and not to discourtesy Mr, Chamberlain appeal to the Dutch to abandon their irreconcilable attitude and to give proofs of loyalty by abandoning the boycotting of loyalists. A proportion of the Afrikanders were impressed by his geniality and trustworthiness.

Mr Hofraeyr is reported to be pleased with Mr Chamberlain’s attitude, and has promised to assist to extinguish racial strife. This, interpreted in connection with Mr Chamberlain’s utterances, implies that an early amnesty will be granted Mr Chamberlain has demanded that the responsible Dutch should give an emphatic assurance of loyalty and condemnation of ostracism; then loyalists would meet them half-way. Generals Botha and De la Rey and Mr Smuts have declined seats on the Legislative Council of the Transvaal because they do not think that body is constituted in the way best calculated to serve the country. THE RAND MINES. The Rand main reef has been struck at a depth of 3300 ft, 16Jft wide, under Soksburg and Yogelfontein The ore yielded a rich assay. It is estimated that the discovery _ will enhance the Government’s mining rights by a million and a half