按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
le； though improbable； moary loss。 However this may be； there the thing ended。 The somewhat nebulous remendations of the mittee included “a grant…inaid” to “be given by the Imperial Government to the mittee formed under the Unemployed Workmen Act； for the purpose of emigration。”
Or alternatively —
“That； in the event of that proposal being rejected； an annual grant…inaid for the term of five years should be made to the Emigrants’ Immigration Office； to be expended by them in the emigration of suitable persons to the British Colonies through such Emigration Societies as they may select 。 。 。 。”
These remendations were dissented from by Mr。 Herbert Samuel； the present Postmaster…General； and by Mr。 H。 Lambert； and qualified in a Note added to the Report by my late friend Mr。 Wilson…Fox； whose premature death has been such a loss to the public service of this country。
It is needless to add that； so far； the Report of this mittee has proved perfectly abortive。 A strong man； such as Mr。 Joseph Chamberlain was in his prime； might have adopted the outline of my ideas and made something of them。 But the strong man was lacking； and to send them to a hybrid mittee of mixed views was only to ensure their murder。 It is always so easy to find fault and make objections。
For me personally this issue was painful。 I had worked hard and in all honestness； and； like many better men； I had found myself thrown over。 After all the Colonial Secretary’s declarations as to the value of my work； etc。； I never even received a letter of thanks from the Government； or； for the matter of that； a copy of the Report and Evidence of the mittee； which I had to buy like any other member of the public。 All that I got was the privilege of paying the bill； for of course the small sum allowed by the Rhodes Trustees did not suffice to meet the expenses of my tour in a high official position through that very expensive country； the United States。
Thus my mission ended。
In confirmation of what I have stated above I ore important letters which I wrote or received as a Special missioner。
The first of these was addressed by me to Lord Rosebery as Chairman of the Rhodes Trust。
Confidential。
Ditchingham House； Norfolk：
May 20； 1905。
My Lord； — You may know that I am the person who was sent to investigate the Salvation Army Colonies in America。 I write therefore thinking that perhaps you would wish to hear from me in the matter。
First； however； as one who has for years taken deep interest in the problem of the congested cities and the depopulated land； I desire most heartily to thank the Rhodes Trustees for their action in having set this investigation on foot。
Very briefly the results are as follows：
On the whole I was well satisfied with the Colonies； perceiving in them a great principle； easy of adaptation。
I proceeded to Canada and showed to various members of the Government there my draft reports。 Also I explained to them my scheme。
I am glad to be able to say that I was successful in impressing upon them that this scheme is quite sound。 Mr。 Sifton （a great power there） even went further and stated that he considered it of more importance to the Dominion than any plan of preferential duties。
The issue is that I have brought home with me a despatch from Sir Wilfrid Laurier granting three hundred and sixty square miles of their best land for the purposes of the scheme； promising as much more as may be required； and stating his firm belief in the practical nature of my scheme 。 。 。 。
I speak with reference to Canada and other Colonies。 On the home side of the question； where dear land and awful rates and District Councils have to be faced； I am not so sure。 I have offered to go into and prepare a further report on this point if it is desired。
I have ventured to suggest that a missioner should be sent to South Africa and especially to Rhodesia； to examine those Colonies and see what they are prepared to do to help。 I have great hope that the tobacco industry in Rhodesia gives an opening to the small holder。 I think also that your Lordship will agree with me that a British population is desirable in that country。
Believe me；
Very truly yours；
H。 Rider Haggard。
The Earl of Rosebery； K。G。； etc。 etc。
As a result of this letter I had a long interview with Lord Rosebery in the course of which we discussed the whole matter in detail。 It was the only occasion upon which I have ever met this remarkable personage。 As he wandered up and down his library and talked of this and that； he impressed me as a melancholy and disappointed man — one who； in a sense； felt that he had failed； notwithstanding his brilliant gifts and great opportunities。 His fine nature peeped out in every sentence that he uttered； also his disillusionment。 I suggested that he should move in this matter in the House of Lords； but he did not bring the matter up there； as a Departmental mittee was appointed。
Truly the appointment of that mittee was wise from the point of view of those who wished to put an end to further agitation on the subject。
I also received the following letters from Earl Grey：
Toronto： May 20； 1905。
My dear Rider Haggard； — I am delighted to get your letter which encourages me to hope that the Colonial Office is in earnest in this matter。 As you know； I agree entirely with you that there is no time to lose — Roosevelt will be glad to blanket our sails if we give him an opportunity。 My impression is that if the Home Government were to refer your Report to the Canadian Government with a request for an expression of their opinion as to the practicability of your remendations que Canada and ask for a statement of what they will do in the matter； it would provide just the stimulus required to enable the Dominion Government to do something this Session。
The Department of the Interior； with whom the initiation of action rests； has been necessarily handicapped by a change of Minister and the election at Edmonton。 The new Minister has hardly had time to get himself fairly into the saddle。 My impression is that the Government here； if properly approached； will follow Fielding’s lead — this of course quite private to yourself。
Yours sincerely；
Grey。
So far as I am aware； the Home Government never “approached” that of Canada in the matter。
Cascapedia Club； Grand Cascapedia；
Quebec； Canada： July 4； 1905。
My dear Rider Haggard； — Your report has just reached me on the banks of the Cascapedia； and I hasten to acknowledge its receipt。
The life here is not conducive to writing； so I will not try to say much。
I fear the Canadian Par（t） which is now preparing itself for Prorogation； will not be able to consider the question seriously this Session — but I will write to Fielding on the subject。
I do not notice in the Blue Book Mark Hanna’s Bill； and I regret its absence； as it gives a lead and shows the way。
I hope the British Public will be able to seize the salient points。 If they can by the aid of the Press be persuaded to assimilate them something ought to result from your visit to the States。
Forgive more at present。
Yours very truly；
Grey。
I received many letters from Mr。 Bramwell Booth； the present General of the Salvation Army； of which I will quote one。
Tonbridge： August 3； 1906。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — The General desires me to thank you for your note and telegram； both sent on to him。 We are travelling。 He desires me to express to you at once in this informal way his high sense of the important service you have rendered to the munity by your investigations in the U。S。 and in Canada； and to say that he has read y（r） Report with the greatest interest。 No doubt he will have the opportunity of saying all this and more to you before very long。
The General feels much disappointed by the inaction of the Government； and does not quite understand the line they take。 If； as you suggest； they wish to dispense with the service of voluntary agencies it appears to him that they potent in this matter。 At the same time he sees great difficulty in arranging any bined action with other organisations such as you name； seeing that； so far as we know； there are no English Societies having any experience worth talking of； with whom we could bine。 And as you know nothing