The San Francisco call., 1899-12-04
THE BRITISH CENSORSHIP.

Il 'ENERAL BULLERS military censorship over
all reports concerning the progress OF the war
in South Africa has been frankly asserted. 1t
has been pretended that comprehensive in
formation regarding the battles or the plans OF CAM
paign has been permitted to the public 1t appears
however, from recent statements in the Westminster
Gazette that the censorship has been applied to mat
tiers OF politics we'll OF war, and that the people
OF Cape Colony have well founded complaints to
make OF the tyranny with which it is enforced
The Gazette quotes from a letter written by man
whom it declares to be "of unmpeachable loyalty"
and for whose knowledge OF the subject il vouches
strong arraignment OF the manner in which the
Dutch people OF the colony have been treated. The
letter is appeal to the justice OF the better class OF
the British people to guard the rights OF the Dutch in
Cape Colony. Among other things the writer says
lust look at our position. One hundred and
eghty-hve meetings held throughout the colony
protesting against war, and yet these were abso-
lutey ignored by the Governor, while every little
league meeting had its resolutions cabed over to the
Secretary OF State for the Colonies as the expression
OF public opinion here. Now we are not even al
lowed to cable opinions. Then it is continually
hinted that when the Free State and Transvaal are
conquered, we shall find our liberties curtaed and
matters so arranged that the newcomers to South
Africa will have the balance OF political powers placed
in their hands. The Dutch people have behaved
spenddly through all this trying time but once let
the opinion become general that their liberties will be
taken away from them and such a spirit will be
aroused that it will be the beginning OF the end Now
is the time for all true friends of South Africa to exert
all their influence prominent politicians in England
to get them really understand the true position OF
affairs out here. We have done all in our power as
Government and people to preserve the peace of
South Africa. That having been swept away, we are
using all influence to keep the war from spread
ing into the colony, and you can imagine how diff
cult this is with this colony used the base Of
operations against the republics
This arraignment is the most serious that has been
brought against General Butler and the Ministry
that supports him A censorship over reports Of
military proceedings, while 1t may be ill-advised Is
not in itself unjust and be readily excused but
why should the censors deny to the people OF Cape
Colony the right OF cabling their opinions London
The Cape is far removed from the seat of war and
the opinions OF the people are not rightly subject 70
military law.
1t is we'll known that If the Dutch people in Cape
Colony should determine 10 make common cause with
their knsmen of the Transvaal and Orange Free
State the difficulties OF the British would be vastly
increased. In fact. general uprising would make
OF conquest costly that even the most ardent
OF British imperialists might well shrink from at
tempting TO prosecute it. That fact gives deep
significance to the censorship which Butler has
established over political opinions we'll over war
news. 1t may have been designed to prevent the
dissemination of disloyal sentiments among the
Dutch but it may also have the effect OF causing the
very thing it was intended to prevent