Tuesday's papers contain a letter addressed by Mr. Cham- berlain
to a Liverpool correspondent on the Chinese labour question. As we anticipated in a recent article, Mr. Chamber: lain has on this question shown no disposition to take up a position of antagonism to the Government. He reminds his correspondent that while still Colonial Secretary he clearly defined the principle on which he proposed to deal with the question,—namely, "to offer no opposition on the part of the Imperial Government to the employment of Asiatic labour if it were clearly shown that such employment was desired by the great majority of the white inhabitants of the two Colonies." This condition he assumes to be fulfilled, in which case he deprecates -the overriding of local opinion. Dealing with the various arguments brought against the introduction d Asiatics, Mr. Chamberlain expresses the opinion that if the employment of such labour is successful it will pave the way for the introduction of a much larger number of British work- men than could in any other circumstances find occupation in South Africa. At the same time, he is not so certain whether the employment of the Chinese will be an economic success. Though we do not agree with the letter, it affords strong proof of Mr. Chamberlain's political candour, for it unquestionably ranges him on the side of the Government in the matter of Chinese labour. No one can now say that he is going to shelter himself from the unpopularity caused by their action.
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