THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNMy Lords, seeing the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Colonies in his place, I wish to ask him a question with reference to a statement which appears in the public Press this morning. It is stated that it is not probable that Sir Hercules Robinson will return as Governor to the Cape. I wish to ask the noble Lord whether there is any truth in the statement?
§ * LORD KNUTSFORDMy Lords, it is true that Sir H. Robinson has decided to retire, and that Her Majesty's Government have accepted that resignation. Questions requiring very careful consideration have lately arisen in South 1670 Africa, and Her Majesty's Government desired to learn from Sir H. Robinson himself his views upon these and other subjects. Sir Hercules Robinson came over and has stated to me his general views, and they will shortly be brought under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. It is evident that Her Majesty's Government could not immediately, and without the full consideration which the importance of the case demands, give that assurance of concurrence and support which he desired. I gladly take this opportunity of expressing to your Lordships the deep sense which Her Majesty's Government entertain of the very exceptional and valuable services which Sir H. Robinson has rendered during his prolonged tenure of office at the Cape. By his able administration of other important colonies he has earned a high and well-deserved reputation, and by his services to the Cape Colony and, indeed I may say the whole of South Africa, he has not only maintained but added to that reputation. Perhaps I may be allowed to add that in the settlement of the questions under consideration, it will be especially the desire of Her Majesty's Government to maintain those friendly and cordial relations with the South African Republic and the Orange Free State which Sir H. Robinson did so much to secure.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONMy Lords, I was not aware until I came into the House this moment that this important question had been raised, and in ordinary circumstances I certainly should have preferred to remain silent. But inasmuch as Parliament rises in 24 hours, and as the subject is one of such great moment, I feel it would not be right to refrain from 1671 making a few observations on the subject. If your Lordships think, however, that I may be out of order in doing so, I shall put myself in order by moving the adjournment of the House. I heard with pleasure the remarks which my noble Friend, the Colonial Secretary, made with reference to Sir Hercules Robinson's past career. He did not, in my opinion, express too strongly the praise which is due to that eminent public servant. For 47 years Sir H. Robinson has discharged succesfully all the most important duties that can fall to the lot of a Colonial Governor. He has had tasks placed upon him from which most men would flinch. He has accomplished them with admirable judgment, capacity, and loyalty to the Crown. He carries with him into retirement an unblemished character; and I say deliberately that I know no one in the ranks of the Colonial Service who is more entitled to the, highest eulogies that can be passed upon him than is Sir Hercules Robinson. But there is something more than this. He united to success, in administration a special and exceptional knowledge of South African affairs. I venture to say that there is no man living who is so well qualified to speak, who is so intimately familiar with that network of difficult politics which exist in South Africa; and he has succeeded partly by his wide knowledge, partly by capacity, partly by character in inspiring a sense of confidence in the Government, in the Parliament, in the people of South Africa, and also in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. My noble Friend, the Colonial Secretary, touched very lightly indeed upon the reasons which had induced Sir H. Robinson to retire, and knowing, as I do, those reasons, judging of them also from that which is public property—the telegram which has appeared in the newspapers—I do not think I shall be acting fairly by Sir H. Robinson if I do not point out to your Lordships that the reason why he retires is not so much that his policy should be considered here at home, as it is that Her Majesty's Government, as I understand, distinctly refuse to give an assurance of that support without which he cannot return to his arduous duties. My Lords, the telegram which appeared in this morning's papers distinctly stated that, and 1672 I do not think the Colonial Secretary will for a moment attempt to qualify it. The words of the telegram are to the effect that inasmuch as Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to give an assurance that they agree with and are prepared to give support to Sir H. Robinson, on those grounds he has felt it to be his duty to retire. It is a very serious matter, my Lords. I do not know that there has been anything in Colonial politics for many years that is altogether more grave or possibly pregnant with more serious results. Sir H. Robinson came home to discuss his position. Her Majesty's Government tell him, as I understand, that they are not prepared to acquiesce in his views, or to support him. What is the policy which is thus, I was going to say, indirectly, but I will say, emphatically, disapproved? My Lords, there has been, I perceive, in some of the public prints a misunderstanding as to particular phrases and terms in Sir H. Robinson's speech when he left Cape Town amid an ovation — there is no other word for it—of all classes and sections of the community; there has been some misunderstanding here in England as to the precise value of some of the words he used, and which the English people have naturally misunderstood, but which are perfectly well known to colonial ears. The policy which Sir H. Robinson enunciated in that speech, I say deliberately, was an old policy, a policy that had been pursued for years; certainly pursued during the whole tenure of office of my noble Friend the Colonial Secretary. It was a policy which had received his sanction and the sanction of Her Majesty's Government; it was one which I cannot conceive being called in question as containing any new or doubtful elements. My Lords, the policy was simply this. It was the policy of responsible Government, the acceptance of responsible Government in its fulness, as against some theory of establishing Crown colonies in the centre of South Africa, Crown colonies cut off from the sea, Crown colonies with which we can have no connection except through responsible Governments, Crown colonies, in fact, which would have to depend absolutely for their very existence upon those responsible Governments. My Lords, though there are many outlying 1673 districts in that part of South Africa which for a time it may be necessary to govern as Crown colonies—it is reasonable, it is necessary, that they should perhaps be so governed, some as Crown colonies, some as protectorates, some as falling within the sphere of Imperial influence—I challenge any man to read the speech of Sir H. Robinson and to doubt that, when he spoke of those Colonies, he did not mean that they were to be absorbed immediately, but that in the fulness of time and when the occasion came they would ultimately devolve upon Cape Colony. That is my view; that is the belief of every man who knows the subject; and Sir H. Robinson distinctly so stated. My Lords, my noble Friend the Colonial Secretary has stated in the few remarks he has made that the idea of Her Majesty's Government is that they must consider maturely the policy of Sir H. Robinson. I think my noble Friend when he advanced a doctrine of that kind can hardly have reflected upon what he said.
§ * LORD KNUTSFORDI did not say that that was the idea of Her Majesty's Government; what I said was that grave questions had lately arisen in South Africa, and that the Government desired to have the opinion of Sir H. Robinson upon them.
THE EARL OF CARNARVONThen, my Lords, I must ask on what ground is it that this experienced administrator, this successful Colonial Governor, is disapproved? Because Her Majesty' Government, in the words of the telegram, if it is correct, will neither acquiesce in his policy nor support him it South Africa. I do not think my noble Friend or any one else can explain this apparent inconsistency. There is a great deal to be said on this matter much more (for it is an immense subject) than I can trouble your Lordship: with this evening. I shall, however deliberately and distinctly assert three things at this moment—first of all whatever be the result of the deliberations of Her Majesty's Government whosoever they may choose to go out to South Africa to succeed Sir H. Robin son must pursue the same course of policy which he has pursued and which he has enunciated. No one who knew anything of this matter and went ow with different views would be other than insane, for he would be setting 1674 himself in direct opposition to the Colonial Government and Parliament; he would go to certain defeat; and whatever others less familiar with this question may think, the Colonial Secretary knows enough to understand that I am speaking the indisputable truth. Secondly, he must not only go prepared to carry out the policy of his disapproved predecessor, but he must be prepared to enunciate publicly that he agrees with Sir H. Robinson and is prepared to carry out that policy. My Lords, if that be so, men will ask again why you sent out a successor who is to be identified with that very policy which you are now directly disapproving, and why you do not send out the man who has been more than any other identified with the politics of South Africa? Thirdly, whoever goes out, however high his attainments or his position, will have to meet this difficulty—he will find it extremely hard to persuade the people, the Government, the Parliament of Cape Colony, the two Dutch communities of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, that he goes bonâ fide to carry out the policy which I say has been indirectly condemned here. My Lords, I am exceedingly sorry to find this fault. My noble Friend the Colonial Secretary will do me the justice to admit that I have never been fond of fault-finding, and I have on more than one occasion suppressed my opinions out of deference to my noble Friend when I have disagreed in certain measures that were taken. But, my Lords, we are now on the verge of very dangerous troubles which may become most grave if they are augmented by any mismanagement here at home; and I should consider myself wrong if I did not on this, almost the last occasion which offers, to the best of my ability signal the perils which I see ahead.
* THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I was not in my place at the beginning of this discussion, but I believe I am right in saying that the noble Lord at the head of the Colonial Office announced that Sir H. Robinson has resigned.
§ * LORD KNUTSFORDYes.
* THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYMy Lords, I could not allow this opportunity to pass without expressing my sense also, as the noble Earl has done, of the very high public services which have 1675 been rendered to this country and South Africa by Sir H. Robinson. It was my lot to advise Her Majesty to send Sir H. Robinson to South Africa in circumstances of extraordinary difficulty; though this is happily not an occasion when I need recall to your Lordships the controversies which arose and the difficulties and calamities which developed during the period which preceded his appointment. Whatever may have been the opinions as to the policy then pursued, I think there is no difference as to the manner in which Sir H. Robinson carried into effect that policy. He had to conduct the negotiations for the final arrangements with the Transvaal in which he displayed a moderation, tact, good sense, and loyalty to the Government at home beyond all praise. Since that time Sir H. Robinson, during many years, has presided over the Government of Cape Colony—a Government which my noble Friend the Colonial Secretary will, I am sure, agree with me is the most difficult Government under the British Crown; and he performed that arduous task with such signal success that on leaving the colony he had, what is without precedent, the universal approval of all classes of the colonists over whom he has been Governor. Now, having said so much, I cannot refrain from adding something with reference to the grave subject touched upon by the noble Lord opposite. The very eminence of the man who has resigned, the very success of his policy, the very unanimity with which that policy has been approved in South Africa, renders the situation one of peculiar gravity, and it is most unfortunate, if it be so, that on this occasion there is likely to be disagreement between the colonists and the Government at home. My Lords, I have read, as I suppose all interested in colonial affairs have read, the speech of Sir H. Robinson delivered before his departure. Without pledging myself to every detail of that speech, in the main lines of it I absolutely and entirely concur. I do not think that wiser or more weighty words have been spoken about South Africa for many years. And delivered at such a time, to such people from such a man, I trust indeed that before Her Majesty's Government depart widely from the policy indicated by that speech they will consider, not once, but many times. No 1676 man can be more sensible than I am, or has more reason to be sensible, of the difficulties attending the government of Cape Colony; and I have no, desire to say anything which may aggravate the difficulties which always exist for Her Majesty's Government in these matters. But I think it would he wrong not to say a few words upon the general policy of the Government with regard to South African affairs. My Lords, I have seen latterly in this country an agitation and a movement arising which I believe to be based on entirely wrong principles. It has for its aim the establishment of some kind of British dominion apart, distinct, and free from the government of the colonies. I do not believe that there could be a more grievous mistake than to imagine that where you have a large number of white colonists, energetic, industrious, and independent, you can withdraw from them that natural opportunity of expansion which the colony presents. Who is it that has made South Africa what it is? It is not the Imperial Government, but the colonists themselves, and they will insist and succeed in reaping the harvest. if you thwart them you will make government impossible. If you act in concert with them you may consolidate the union between them and the mother country. But if, you seek to establish side by side with them dependencies which are conducted on lines absolutely different from those on which they conduct their government, you will certainly he involved with these colonies in difficulties which can only end in their independence. Cape Colony is a colony in which we have a, double interest—an interest not merely on account of the value of the territory which the colony comprises, and the great future which, as I believe, it has before it, but because it is an essential post on the way to India. It behoves us, therefore, to be extremely cautious how we do anything to alienate the white colonists in that part of the Empire. I know well that in many respects the past in South Africa has been unfortunate; but I had hoped that, after all the storms and calamities, there was now a reasonable prospect of a gradual subsidence of the old difficulties, and a gradual coming together of the colonists among themselves; and I 1677 had hoped that the colony was working harmoniously with the Government at home with a view to strengthen the existing colony and prepare for a gradual union with the outlying dominions. My Lords, I should be the last to ask the Government to act precipitately; I entirely approve of our giving for a time assistance to those territories outside the colonies from home. As I understood the purport of Sir H. Robinson's speech, it was not that he wished Bechuanaland or any of the other territories to be at once handed over to Cape Colony—for that would not be advantageous to the colony or to the territory—but only that he protested against a new departure which should be based upon the ground that we should establish separate Crown colonies, or whatever else they might be called, independent of the old colonies. I will not detain your Lordships further; but I did not think that it was right on an occasion of so serious a character not to express freely and without reserve the opinion I have formed upon this important question.
§ * LORD KNUTSFORDI only desire to make a few observations, as it would be manifestly impossible and, indeed, improper for me to enter at the present moment into a discussion on the policy to be observed in South Africa. What I desire to say most strongly is that I do not know what the noble Earl means when he talks of Her Majesty's Government having expressed emphatic disapproval of the policy of Sir H. Robinson. No such disapproval has been expressed or implied. Indeed, as regards one part of that policy, I expressed but a few minutes ago entire approval, and I distinctly stated that Her Majesty's Government desired to keep up those friendly relations with the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State which Sir H. Robinson has done so much to form. So far as I have spoken, and so far as I have stated the view of Her Majesty's Government, there has been no disapproval, expressed or implied, of the policy that Sir H. Robinson followed; but, as I have pointed out, new questions of importance have arisen. It was desired to have the opinion of Sir H. Robinson on those and other questions, and I have no doubt that the speech which he delivered on leaving the Cape will come under the 1678 consideration of Her Majesty's Government. But Her Majesty's Government could not at once arrive at a determination on those questions; and, therefore, when we were asked for an immediate assurance of complete concurrence in the views of Sir H. Robinson and a promise to support him should he return to South Africa, we were not in a position to give that assurance at once. I must remind your Lordships that Sir H. Robinson has not been recalled; he has retired of his own free will, before we were able to consider the questions brought before us. I repeat that what has passed is not to he taken as a disapproval by Her Majesty's Government of the policy which has hitherto been pursued in South Africa.