The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-04-28
Asks for 10000 Transyaal
Soldiers with Cannon.
BANNERMAN IS IN TROUBLE
Premier Tries TO Evade Demand of
Colonies for Colonial Preference as
TO Tarif-Country Also Indignant
Over ParsimOny OF Ministry I'm Dis
charging the Arsenal Forces.

colonial premiers to London is very diff
ferent from that given in the published
reports OF the proceedings and the public
speeches Of the visitors and members
of the government If the whole truth
could be told. the empire would be
shocked by the situation which has been
created by the moribund Liberal govern
ment
It is hardly a secret that the Campbell
Bannerman ministry has been devoting
all its efforts TO render the conference
abortive upon all but the minor issues.
There is anything but harmony among
the colonial representatives themselves
but this is hardly surprising when a
freak Of fortune bring such men as Gen.
Botha and DR.. Jameson together in the
same assembly.
BOtha Wants Army of 10000.
Gen. Botha's public attitude is more
patriotic than the flag itself He came to
London with two demands or requests, in
behalf Of the new Boer colony, one that
the two provinces which were transferred
from the Transvaal to Natal be restored.
and the other that his government be
allowed to raise and equip Transvael
force Of $1,000 men, who naturally would
be almost entirely Beers. II these things
are granted. he is willing to meet the
home governments view in regard to the
demand for colonial preference. where
upon most Of the other colonial premiers
are most pressing.
DR.. Jameson and other South African
Englishmen heartily resent Gen. Botha's
proposals. They are extremely bitter
against the home government for their
unparalleled concessions TO their late
Boer enemies. They argue that the Boer
mind is entirely incapable of approaching
the British governments liberal treat
ment, which they interpret as a sign Of
weakness only and these observers affirm
that the natives of the Transvaal are al
ready cherishing the idea of regaining
their independence.
Would Seeede and Whip Beers.
These feelings are SO strong in Cape
Colony that a high official of the Cape
government. who Is now in London, open
ly threatened, q few days ago that il
Gen. Bothas demands were granted the
other South African colonies would secede
from the empire and whip the Beers
themselves.
Gen. Botha has already been told that
he cannot have the Natal provinces, but
the Bannerman government is stin con
sidering the question of permitting the
creation Of a Boer army under the Brit
ish flag They seem inclined TO grant
the request under the condition that the
commander shall be an English officer.
and they are innocently asking why the
equipment should include artillery when
the purpose Of the force is merely 20
keep order among the native population.
Such is one feature of the colonial love
feast. Another and a more important one
is the bitter controversy over colonial
preference as regards the tariff Prime
Minister Sir Henry Campbell Zimmerman
considers that II is his duty totrefuse
this under the popular mandate involved
in the vote Of the country. which placed
his party IN power
BanneFmRn in Tight Place.
But several premiers Of important col
onies are so insistent on this subject that
they have decided to refuse TO take no"
for an answer. They go farther. They
demand the privilege of making CONNER
cial treaties for themselves with foreign
powers, such as Canada did virtually in
her commercial agreement with Germany
two years ago Their argument for a
reciprocal tariff with the mother country.
is that the schedule can be so arranged
that prices of import in Great Britain 10
consumers viii not be materially affected
because the colonies can supply every
thing which need be taxed almost as
eheapiy as Is now paid to other sources
of supply.
Free trade within the empire. or almost
free trade. would not seriously violate
the principles of the Liberal party. But
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman dare not
concede what is virtually the chief article
of faith Of his political opponent. His
position is embarrassing TO the point OF
evaporation, yet he must preserve an
attitude of loving solicitude toward these
representatives Of the greater British
empire, while refusing the only thing
which they unanimously demand The
matter has already reached an extreme
stage, and it has practically been decided
by majority of the colonial preniers
that if the government refuses any con
cessiOn, they will. after dispensing. issue
a joint protest and appeal in addresses
TO the British public.
Country Tires of Parsfmony.
Such action by representatives Of the
rest Of the empire would put greater
humiliation upon the Bannerman ministry
than any ever inflicted upon a British
government There is abundant evidence
that the feeling in the country has SO
completely changed in the past fifteen
months that there is no chance of their
returning to power if a general election
could be held The LiDeraf leaders are
fully aware OF this It Is no secret that
the reason why Winston Churchill was
appointed a privy councillor. instead OF
being raised to a cabinet rank. was he.
cause the government dare not risk an
appeal to his Manchester constituency
for his reelection.
Popular indignation is increasing against
the government for its parsimony. which
IS cropping out in the army and the navy.
They have dismissed. for instance. Is COO
men from the W oolwich Arsenal. and in
response to the labor protest. Prime Min
lister Campbeii-Bannerm blindly saws
that the men can easily get work at pri-
vate works like the Kynoehs or Arm
strongs. This has Been investigated. with
the result that all such establishments re-
port that they are discharging men he
cause the government is not issuing con-
tracts. Reports from the Krupps an6
other German works. and the steel works
Of America, on the other hand, show great
demand for labor, and the men who have
been discharged from Woolwich are emf
grating rapidly.
But 10 amount of public opposition can
AFFECT the governments hold-up on office.
No slow series of by-elections can ir,narit
their enormous majority and they can re
main in power for another FIVE wears
unless international dissensions or very
shame induces them to yield to a popular
demand for fresh election.