New-York tribune., 1903-01-19
MR.. CHkMBERLAIN's SPEECH.
British Plans in South Africa Stated by the
Secretary.

Johannesburg, Jan. 1S.-In the course of his
remarks at the banquet given here yesterday
evening to Colonial Secretary Chamberlain in
the historic Wanderers Hail. Mr. Chamberlain
explained at length the details of the financial
settlement with the new colonies. The principal
features of this settlement were announced by
The Associated Press January -. Accord
ing TO a detailed report Of the Colonial Secre
tary,s speech yesterday evening. he said. after
expressing his hope that the colonies would
deal with the matter in manner looking to the
interest of the whole of South Africa and the
empire. that all his information led him to be-
lieve that the Beers were settling down to re-
cover their positions and repair the damages of
the war with the resolution of their race. He
painted in glowing coors the promising pros
poets of the colonies when development shall
have reduced the cost of living and when race
prejudice shall have died out. Referring to the
position of the people of Johannesburg, he said
they should no longer be reproached with being
COSMOPOLITAN money seekers who did not aspire
to settle in the country.
Mr. Chamberlain explained that it had been
his idea to ask for a much larger sum than any
thing yet mentioned, but on a plan of yearly
contributions from surpluses and new sources or
revenue He said il had been represented to
him. however, that this plan might become a
burden on the new generation, who might regard
il under the odious name of tribute to the
mother country Thus it might sow the seeds
Of disseDsion and disunon, and cause great
danger He felt the force of these arguments,
and he therefore sought, instead. TO secure some
practical and immediate settlement. This, after
much discussion had been obtained in form
acceptable to his majesty's government. Refer
ring to the details of the financial proposal, the
Colonial Secretary said it must be borne in mind
that all the propositions hung together, that one
r,a RI could not be separated from another. He
said there was no doubt in his mind or
among those whom he had consulted that the
revenues Of the Transvaal would be ample TO
provide service debt. The action of number
of South African financiers in subscribing the
first S:J0O00000 without commission or any pref
eTential security for the remainder of the loan
had rendered the success of the loan on the Lon
don market quite certain. Mr.. Chamberlain
said he believed the people Of the mother coun-
try would accept the war contribution as an
adequate and liberal recognition Of the Trans
yaars duty TO the empire. and value it more for
the spirit in which it offered than for the
relief it was likely 10 afford the exchequer.
Mr.. Chamberlain then explained that no war
contribution had been asked from the Orange
River Colony whose revenue was only suffi
cient for ordinary expenses, but that in the
probable development of the country he thought
il would not be unfair a few years hence. to
ask for a moderate contribution, If the re-
sources justified il.
The Colonial Secretary warmly repudated the
rumors that there had been any ignoble bar
gaining for the imperial consent for the intro
duction of Chinese labor. saying such bargain
ing would have been almost treasonabl on his
mart He went al some length into the labor
question. and said there was plenty of labor if