We Publish in our correspondence columns evidence of a most
outrageous attempt on the part of the Rand Daily Mail to pervert the testimony of Mr. Creswell and misrepresent the attitude of the Spectator in regard to the Chinese labour question. In this context we may note that Mr. Deakin, the Federal Premier, has telegraphed to the Colonial Secretary at Pretoria to express the deep apprehension of Australia of the results of the introduction of Chinese labourers into the Transvaal. He points out that the intro- duction of Chinese would create vested interests, rendering it difficult to terminate the practice once it had been sanctioned, besides involving perils of a racial, social, political, and sanitary nature. Australia has no right, and Mr. Deakin does not claim it, to dictate in this matter, but she is at least entitled to advise and warn. This being so, we cannot but regret that the Legislative Council of the Transvaal has not received in a more appreciative spirit the advice of Colonies which have done so much in the past for South Africa. We may add that in a speech at Krfigersdorp, reported in Friday's Times, Lord Milner maintained that public opinion was strongly in favour of the experiment, and that in his opinion it was the only means of ensuring the solvency of the country.
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