The heart of South Africa, Boer and Briton, is with England in this war.  Here and there you will find an individual who cherishes bitter and hostile memories, of which there has been an example in Mr. Beyers letter the other day, so effectually answered by Gen. Botha.  But such instances, I believe, are so rare that really they are the exceptions which seem to prove the rule.  Of course, it goes without saying that every person of English descent is heartily with the mother country, and I do not suppose it would be an overestimate to add that quite 80 per cent, of the Dutch are of the same way of thinking.

Still, there is a party among the South African Dutch that sees no necessity for the invasion of German Southwest Africa.  This party overlooks the fact that the Germans have for long been preparing to invade them; also that if by any chance Germany should conquer in this war South Africa would be one of the first countries that they would seize.

In speaking of this I talk of what I understand, since for the last two and a half years it has been my duty to travel around the British Empire upon the service of his Majesty.  In addition to South Africa, I have visited India, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Canada.  I have recently traveled throughout South Africa as a member of the Dominion’s Royal Commission.  It was my first visit there after the lapse of a whole generation, and I can only say that everywhere I have found the most intense loyalty and devotion to the old mother land.  The empire is one and indivisible; together it will stand or together it will fall.

South Africa is united; it has forgotten its recent labor troubles.  I answer “absolutely” all such things are past history, blown away and destroyed by this great wind of war.  South Africa, down to its lowest Hottentot, has, I believe, but one object, to help England to win in this vast battle of the nations.  Why, even the natives, as you may have noticed, are sending subscriptions from their scanty hoards and praying to be allowed “to throw a few stones for the King.”  Did not Poutsma say as much the other day?

In the old days, of course, there were very strained relations between the English and Boers, which had their roots in foolish and inconsistent acts carried out by the Home Government, generally to forward party ends.  I need not go into them because they are too long.

Then came the Boer war, which, as you know, proved a much bigger enterprise than the Home Government had anticipated.  It cost Britain 20,000 lives and L300,000,000 of English money before the Boers were finally subdued.  Only about half a score of years have gone by since peace was declared.  Within two or three years of that peace the British Government made up its mind to a very bold step and one which was viewed with grave doubts by many people—­namely, to give full self-government to the Transvaal and the Orange River Colonies.