BOER CALL TO BRITISH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2400, 15 January 1909, Page 3

BOER CALL TO BRITISH.

REQUEST FOR LARGER SOUTH AFRICAN GARRISONS. “RACIALISM IS DEAD.” Colonel Seely, M.P., ITnder-Secre-tarv of State for the Colonies, recently made a remarkable announcement to the Manchester Reform Club btaa|ringj on l)ho (recent statements concerning the relations between British .and Boers in the colony. “Now that this country has applied; the solvent and free political institutions under the common flag,” said Colonel Seely, “I can say without hesitation that we have got in South Africa complete reconciliation between the two great races. “As a striking proof of the good feeling between the Dutch and English in South Africa, I will mention what has not previously been made known; that the 'most urgent representations have been made to the British Government by the most influential and most trusted of the leaders of the Dutch people of South Africa in favor of the maintenance of the largest possible garrison of British soldiers in South Africa. (Cheers.) “That is a striking and remarkable fact! Seven years ago I was engaged with 15,000 other Englishmen an trying to put General Botha ill a corner. If an angel had whispered in my ear that the men that we were trying to kill would in so short a time be writing urgent letters to the British Government begging and imploring them to maintain in South Africa the largest force of British troops possible I would have looked upon it as a. dream. “But the fact remains that this lias been done. The British Government has been able„in some respects to meet tlie wishes of the_ responsible Government of South Africa. This is not only a tribute .to the British Army, Ivufc it is a most striking proof that racialism is dead.”