THE PLEBISCITE

The world has been pretty unanimous in declining to accept the moonstruck idea of conceding to the negroes in the colonies the right of self-determination in the sense that they might choose their own protectorate power by means of a plebiscite. It would be a mere comedy! cry some. It would be the beginning of the end of the Eus ropean colonial empire, think others.

And yet England, the past master in the. art of polis tical stage tricks, scenesshifting and property working, could not resist the temptation of producing a few effective scenes of this comedy on the stage. How sweet, how touching are these tableaux! The guileless children of Nature, released at length from all evil and thralldom, cast a sidelong look of horror and reproach at the wicked Germans and lift their innocent eyes to their saviours:

»Master, remain with us! Do not leave us, master dear!«

The English White Book already referred to furnishes a review of this most moving bit of sentimental comedy. And the .press of the greater part of the world yells its approval.

But like all other comedies — a look behind the scenes, and lo! — all illusion vanishes! A considerable number of German citizens of standing have seen this machinery of the Briton at work and will attest the accuracy of the following statements :