Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08
VISIT SOUTH AFRICA
Chamberlain to Study Dues
ton of Future Government.
YERKES' SENTIMENT
SPARES ONE OF LoNDoN's MOST
HISTORIC HOUSES.
st. Andrews Youthful Lord Rector
Gordon Craig's Drawings
Gossip. of London.

hoiNDoIN, OClODeT -, 1SUZ.
Mr.. Chamberlain has decided to visit
South Africa to see for himself the progress
of repatriation and to study on the spot
the question of future government. 1t Is
an extraordinary step for British states
man to take and many Englishmen are hes
itating- to approve In unqualified terms
without full consideration
The first thought that suggests itself is
the effect upon the position of Lord Miner.
If it were possible to doubt that between
the high commissioner and the colonial
secretary there exists feeling of the most
perfect confidence, it would be impossible
for Mr.. Chamberlain to go without Lord
Miner coming home. The position of the
high commissioner is at once too great and
too delicate to be exposed to official in
spection. He is the ears, the eyes and the
brains of the government in South Africa.
His position makes 1t sharp necessity that
in almost every matter of Importance the
government should do he advises. IL
the Government does not feel sufficient
confidence to follow his counsel, the rem
edy is not to send out a superior person to
examine his great charge, but to find
other man in whom greater confidence can
be placed. So 1t may be taken for granted
that Mr.. Chamberlain means no slight to
Lord Miner, though the visit Is liable to
that Interpretation
A Further Grave Consideration.
A further grave consideration one might
name Is that for the colonial secretary to
be away from his Office for three or four
months may be a matter of very serious
loss and inconvenience to the rest of the
colonial empire, especially when the colo
NAL secretary is Chamberlain. Yet more,
1t may be urged that in the interests of the
government the responsible minister should
never be the man on the spot, since Is 1t
huge convenience, and also on many occa-
sions a public advantage, to have some
person who can be used as a scapegoat
without serious detriment to the prestige Of
ministers.
These various considerations would be
overwhelmingly strong in most cases, and
one would have no hesitation in saying that
the balance of advantage is all on the side
of minister for the colonies keeping to his
own place and leaving great servants of
the state like Lord Miner to bear all tie
responsibility that rightly and properly at
taches to their office. But the circumstances
of South Africa are so exceptional that 1t
Is impossible to name parallel, and the
character of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain is so
distinct from the average of imperial minis
tiers that no parallel, if available, could be
rightly applied. The problem that awaits
solution in South Africa is largely one of
business methods, requiring the instincts of
a fully trained commercial intellect for its
solution, and Mr.. Chamberlain Is incom-
parably superior in practical business ex-
perience to Lord Miner or, in fact to any
other member of the Balfour ministry.
A Justification Suggested.
Here is a justification for this newest de-
parture in new diplomacy. Mr.. Chamber
lain must finally determine certain great
financial questions affecting the future of
South Africa He can only do SO when pos
sessed of the fullest possible knowledge of
the commercial and Industrial prospects of
that empire in embryo By going to the spot
he brings the best capacity into the most
favorable position for arriving at decision,
and thereby practically ensures that the
best possible conclusion will be reached.
This is probably the actual reason for Mr.
Chamberlain determination to visit South
Africa.
His reception by the Beers will hardly be
enthusiastic. Since 1895 they have been
taught to regard him as the evil genius of
their race. There may be thousands even
now who feel that it would be the nobIest
martyrdom to die with his blood upon their
heads, and the visit is not one that any man
would pay who preferred an arm chair in
times of danger. Yet the Beers are quite
capable Of paying homage to a strong man.
They gave their hearts to Lord Kitchener;
and, after all, there would be little reason
to marvel If they pay homage to Mr.. Cham
berlain after they have personally encoun-
tered him, they did Kitchener If he can
win their confidence while travelling among
them, ne Will DO more IOr the settlement Oh
South Africa than years of dispatch writing
in Downing street would accomplish
Yerkes Spares Historic House.
The parliamentary committee of the Lon
don common council has evidently not been
alarmed by the Times attacks on munich
pal socialism. They consider the question
Of an underground rapid-transit service In
the metropolis of such urgent Importance
that they recommend the council to In
struct the parliamentary. highway and
finance committees to at once consider the
advisability of the council promoting In the
next session Of parliament a bill on the SUBJ
ject of underground railways In London.
So far the American magnates have had
matters their own way in this respect. Mr..
Morgan and Mr.. Yerkes will not In all prob
ability have to compete with municipal en-
terprise.
Under Mr.. Yerkes' underground scheme
a historic house in AIbemarle street, OF
which Mr.. John Murray, the publisher. Is
proprietor. was scheduled for destruction.
This would have been nothing less than
national disaster, and Mr.. Murray was pre-