THE BASUTO DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 299, 2 October 1880, Page 2

THE BASUTO DIFFICULTY.

Read in connection with the cable messages which appear in another column, the following extracts from English papers on the Basuto difficulty will be found interesting : News was received in London on July 21st that the Basutos werein open rebellion, that the European women and children had boen sent out of the country and that the. residency of Colonel Griffith, at Maseru, was threatened. The telegram wound up by saying that a body of 200 troops had been despatched to quell the disturbances. The Daily News asks "of what use would be this handful of men in the presence of a general rising of the natives ? The responsibility of war—if war there is to be—rests with the Cape Ministry who in Januai7 last, were solemnly warned by Colonel Griffith that, by making so many demands on the Basutos siniultane ously, they were subjecting native loyalty to too severe a strain. Mr Spriggond his colleagues refused to listen to the Eesident's prudent advice and when Lord Kimberley at a later period, earnestly counselled them to abandon their expressed intention to deprive the Basutos of Morsi's territory they replied by placing before the Colonial Legislative resolutions in favor of their confiscating policy, and by proceeding with the survey of the disputed land. The public will be anxious to know what steps the Colonial Office has taken to prevent the catastrophe which appears to be impending over a once loyal and prosperous tribe. It cannot bo alleged that we have been taken by surprise in this matter ; for it is only bv very gradul steps that the present critical position has been reached. We hope that the Government will be able to announce to Parliament that such instructions have been telegraphed to Sir Bartle Frere as will bu calculated to strengthen the hands of the moderate party at the Cape, and to prevent this country from being diawn into another inglorious native war." The Morning Post thinks that "probably those who are preventing the surrender of arms are under some misconception as to the ultimate intentions of the Colonial Government, but everything should be made clear at once. Delava are dangerous and a collusion might occur leading to more regretable results. As it is, the excitement seems widespread and has penetrated to the Orange Eiver Free State, owing to its proximity to Basutoland. The President is reported to have telegraphed to the Cape for protection and to have sent his family out of the State. The. whole matter indicates the necessity of South African union, and adds a fresh argument in favor of federation. If federation cannot be established as yet something ought to be done to set the question of general defenco on a satisfactory footing, and it might bo well duringthe ensuing Parliamentary recess to invite representatives of the various South African Gove r nmentß to discuss the matter here in London with the Secretary of State, so that he may be in a position to know, by personal eornmunication with responsible autho rities, what line of policy, in matters affecting Imperial interests, it would be well to adopt in South Africa. We are very much afraid that so long as the communications between Home Government and the Colonies are confined to the interchange of dispatches between the Governors and the Secretary of State unavoidable delays will occur, with possible misapprehensions, and that there will be great difficulty in arriving at any correct conclusions." The Standard says :—" It is clear to us, whilst allowing that it might have heen convenient to have the Basutos in ths same condition as the other tribes, that the orders of Colonial Government, were harsh and injudicious. Doubtless injudicious will they find them to be , should their action bring on a fresh petty war. We cannot be always aiding them in those squabble, poworSi-ss as we siro to bances in tie ii,ii,]ouz out of which vfy

Basutf* difficulty is, moreover, only one of the many recent proofs of the absolute necessity tor the African Colonies to decide u;•<>» some, means for a common defence. The Cape Parliament has for the time bring rejected the confederation proposals. Should t.Ji«- vote be 'no confidence' with which t!ie Ministry is at present threatened resu't * unfavourably for them, it is possible that the next Government may be more willing to listen to Lord Kimberley's counsel. But, whether or not, confederation, or something akin to it, ca'-uot long be delayed."