The Washington herald., 1908-04-26
Nv Ex-ATTAcHE.

STATE Tor tHe SDloAieS
/ Consumr@te tact, diplomacy OF the
highest order, freedom from prejudice.
a keen sense of perspective, the expert
ence OF 8 travelled man of the world,
and craftsmanship in the broadest sense
/ of the word, are the principal qualifica-
/ tions required OF the chief Of this de-
partment OF the administration It is to
/ him that the nation looks TO preserve
unimpaired the bonds that unite the Do
minions OF Canada and OF New Zealand,
| the commonwealth OF Australia, and all
/ the other dependencies Of England be-
yond the ses-excepting India-with the
mother country, into one vast empire
upon which the sun never sets, and
/ which embraces a fifth Of the human
race. In all Of these transporting pos
sessions that boast of any form of self
government the tendency is in favor of
/ Increased asAnaomy. Interference from
Downing stre& is keenly resented, and
/ with the lesson Of what happened Ia con-
nection with those former colonies now
/ embraced in the United States before
/ his eyes, the secretary Of state is oblig-
ed to employ the utmost delieacy and
gentleness Of touch In the exercise of
the imperial authority vested in his
hands.
Takes Form Of Suggestion.
Its use as a rule takes the form of
suggestion, persuasion. and only In ex-
treme cases Of a veto OF colonial legisla-
ton, issued through the governor, who
q th~ kfsf
who taxes his instructions from the sec
retary Of state. That the exercise Of this
authority In the manner in which have
| just indicated is necessary. is shown by
the fact that the policies OF the various
| transporting dependencies frequently
clash, not only with the interests OF one
another. but likewise with the views Of
the home government. and with the OBJ
/ legations o. the empire as an entity to-
ward foreign powers.
/ The long pending controversy on the
subject Of Newfoundland furnishes a case
in point, and another illustration thereof
/ is to be found in the determination Of
I the Pacific Coast provinces Of the DonliD-
/ ion OF Canada, and on the part Of Au-
! stralia, Of New Zealand and Of South
Africa, 10 exclude Asiatics, in spite Of
the fact that the people OF India are for
the most part full-fedged subjects OF the
/ British Crown. and that the japanese are
allies Of England. Then there are the
questions Of tariff, which some colonies
/ have set up, not only against foreign
nations. but even against Great Britain.
/ There is also the problem OF providing
Eadequate naval and military protection
| for the colonies, and OF peTsuading them
/ 10 contribute 10 its cost. And. above all,
t there is the difficulty OF explaining 10 the
parliament at Westminster that conditions
/ in the colonies are so different that IL is
/ quite impossible to attempt to enforce
views. which. while a matter Of popular
! sentiment and prejudice in the mother
/ country. are altogether impracticable In
distant dependencies.
Think Natives Degraded.
People. for instance. who have never
left their county town or village in Eng
land, but who, nevertheless. exercise
through their parliamentary representa-
ltIves an influence in the imperial legisla-
/ ture at Westminster, are fond Of arguing
that the dusky aboriginal natives Of Au-
stralia. representing the lowest and most
degraded type of humanity, and the vari-
Gus ignorant and more OF less savage ne
gro races Of Southern Africa, have iden-
tically the same civic rights. and can be
ruled by the same methods as the whites
which is not only an untenable proposi-
ton. but one which considerations OF The
most weighty and convincing order com
pei the colonial governments to resist
To make matters worse. the secretary OF
state for the colonies is wholly RESPONSE
bic 10 Parliament, whereas his colleague
at the head OF the department Of foreign
affairs, is first and foremost accountable
TO the sovereign. in whom. by the terms
OF the constitution. the direction and con
troll Of the international relations Of thG
empire are vested.
/ These are by no means all OF the prob
lens by which the secretary Of state FOL
the colonies Is confronted. But the enum
leration. such as it is. may convey sons
faint idea of the difficulties which he Il
lcalled upon 10 solve. criticised if on th'
one hand he fails 10 enforce In British
possessions beyond the seas the imperia
authority in accordance with the ideas
which prevail in the United Kingdom
still more freely condemned, on the othel
ihand, If he does anything to antagoniz,
the colonies toward the mother country
and to diminish their loyalty and theil
iaffection for the latter. In fact, he Il
iper)etually between the devil and tht
deep sea, and it requires a man Of alto
gether exceptional adroitness to satisfy
every one and to assume the mantle o.
that Elijah Of colonial administration
namely. Joseph Chamberlain.
EIgin NOf Successful
Lord Elgin's tenure of the colonial Of
fee has been quite the reverse of success
full. There has been dissatisfaction al
along the line, both at home and through
Iout Greater Britain. In South Africa, IL
the Dominion of Canada, in Australia
land New Zealand. In Newfoundland AM
the West Indies-every where, IN fact
Irritation against the imperial authorities
prevails II is of the most vital impor
tance that this should be allayed, and b!
icommon consent no better man coul(
have been selected for the task thai
Lord Crewe.
Lord Crewe is no stranger to America
His gifted father. the late Lord Hough
ton, was one Of the most popular English
men who ever visited the United States
making friends everywhere, and relieving
his fellow-countrymen OF the imputatioT
of being devoid of any sense of humO
lad incapable Of wit He made severa
stays In this country, passing from on
entertainment to another, until even hi
hosts we're amazed by his powers of en-
duranee. and on each occasion he wa
accompanied by his only son, Robin,
who in those days bore the name Of tn
Hon. Robert Mines but who was rathe
overshadowed by his fathers celebrity
In fact. it was generally believed al tn
time that Robin, like so many other SON
of DISTINGUISHED men, would be handicap
ped throughout his career by hts father
fame. And so It was at first.
x~o.--, ~. Eozass gan