1899.] The Chinese Question. [55
other countries. "We stand," he added, "by the necessity of safeguarding, to the utmost of our power, the particular sphere (the Yang-tsze) in which we are interested. I do not call it a
- sphere of interest/ but the particular part to which our trade
mainly goes." The Government, however, had no intention of undertaking the whole Government of China, or demanding concessions with their eyes shut. They recognised to the full the value of an understanding with Russia, and were not without hope that that object might be obtained. Sir Edward Grey, defining the policy of the Opposition, held that there must be an agreement between the Powers based upon the recognition of spheres of interest as opposed to annexation. He, moreover, entreated the Government to rid itself of the traditional distrust which paralysed our policy throughout Asia and weakened it in Europe.
Colonial affairs were again brought forward on the vote on account for Civil Services (March 20), when Sir Ashmead- Bartlett raised a debate on the state of affairs in South Africa, with especial reference to the refusal of the Transvaal Govern- ment to enfranchise the Uitlanders residing within the borders of that republic. Mr. Chamberlain, in reply, expressed his doubts if the Uitlanders themselves wished us to go to war to obtain the redress of their wrongs. It was true that President Kruger had not kept the promises of reform he had made at the time of the Jameson raid, nor did his latest proposals with regard to a change in the conditions of the franchise seem to be of the slightest value. The true way, Mr. Chamberlain thought to remedy the grievances of the Uitlanders, was to give real municipal powers to the people of Johannesburg, but there seemed to be no chance of any such concession. As a rule, however, the British Government could only interfere with plain breaches of the convention of 1884, and it was not contended that the grievances most complained of were due to infractions of that document. We might at any time interfere if the comity of nations were not observed by the Transvaal, and we had actually and quite recently procured the repeal of the Alien Law, and had endeavoured to obtain some measure of justice for the "Cape boys." Moreover, as the paramount Power in South Africa, we could make friendly suggestions to the Government of the Transvaal in the general interest ; but it would not be dignified to make them, when, as we had reason to believe, they were not likely to be heeded. Meanwhile, the ministers were carefully watching the situation, and they had the utmost confidence in Sir Alfred Milner. Both Mr. Bryce (Aberdeen, S.) and Mr. Buxton (Poplar, Tower Hamlets), repre- senting the Foreign and Colonial Office views of the previous Ministry, expressed their approval of the policy pursued by the present Government in dealing with the Transvaal.
On the same evening (March 20) in the House of Lords, the British position in Central Africa was raised by the Earl of
