CHAPTER LXII

THE NINE YEARS OF KING EDWARD VII.'S REIGN, 1901-1910

LEADING DATES

Accession of King Edward VII.

Boer War (from Oct. 1899) ended by Peace of

Asquith Premier

Old-Age Pensions

South African Union

Dissolution on Question of Budget

Accession of King George V.

Arbitration on Atlantic Fisheries Dispute

I. Accession of King Edward VII.-Though the majority supporting Lord Salisbury's Ministry was still unimpaired, Parliament had been dissolved in the autumn of 1900. The Government, appealing to the country to strengthen their position in settling affairs in South Africa, had secured a majority of 134 over Liberals and Irish Nationalists combined. On the death of Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901, the Prince of Wales succeeded and took the title of Edward VII. For many years Parliament had been opened by Commission, but the new King opened Parliament in

state.

The Coronation, which had been fixed for the end of June 1902, had to be postponed owing to the sudden illness of the King; however, he happily recovered and was crowned in August. The Prime Ministers of the self-governing colonies had come to England for the Coronation, and an Imperial Conference was held, at which they offered increased contributions for naval defence.

The Ministry was modified, Lord Lansdowne relieving the Premier of the duties of the Foreign Office. A new Act rendered

reappointment unnecessary in the case of Ministers and other officials on the demise of the Crown. Parliament had duly met without summons on the Queen's death, in accordance with Statute.

2. Boer War. At the end of 1900 it was thought that the Transvaal War was practically over (p. 978), but the vast extent of

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the veldt with the wild and mountainous nature of the country lent itself to guerilla warfare, in which remarkable skill was shown by the Boers, who had been hunters of game and unerring shots with the rifle all their lives; they were mounted, and knew where to retreat when pressed and how to make surprise attacks. General L. Botha operated in the East of the Transvaal and threatened raids on Natal. De la Rey was active in the north-west of the Transvaal, while De Wet in the south-west of the Orange Free State crossed the Orange River and made raids far into Cape Colony, trying to stir up an insurrection there and even having hopes of reaching Cape Town. But martial law being proclaimed in Cape Colony there were not many who were willing to rise; the loyal colonists gave active service as volunteers, and eventually De Wet had the utmost difficulty in escaping almost single-handed back over the Orange River, with the loss of nearly all his horses. Lord Kitchener, who had succeeded Lord Roberts in command, kept his troops along the lines of railway and established chains of blockhouses to hold the Boers in check. There was still need of great numbers of troops; the Regular Army did not nearly suffice; colonial contingents from Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and Canada gave invaluable help, while there were many volunteers from England. The lack of trained troops was felt, and there were surprises and regrettable reverses; but the Boers were gradually worn down, losing all their guns and almost all their transport, till finally on May 31, 1902, they made peace at Vereeniging, laying down their arms and recognising the King. On the other side it was agreed that military government should give way to civil, and that as soon as circumstances admitted representative institutions, leading up to self-government, should be introduced. A free grant of 3,000,000/. was to be given to enable the Boers to stock their farms and re-settle on the land.

3. Chief Measures of Balfour's Ministry.-In July 1902 Lord Salisbury resigned on account of age and was succeeded as Premier by his nephew Mr. A. J. Balfour, already the leader in the House of Commons. The Education Act of 1902 was one of the principal measures passed by his Ministry. The Act was important as an attempt to organise our educational system. Power was given for the first time to aid higher education by a limited rate. Education was brought under the ordinary local authorities and the School Boards established under Forster's Act in 1870 (see p. 963) were abolished. While all elementary education in the rural districts was to be administered by the county councils, in towns it was

generally put under the borough councils, except in London, where in 1903 it was brought under the County Council. Voluntary or denominational schools, chiefly Church of England and Roman Catholic schools, were to be let to the local authority without rent and their buildings were to be repaired and improved at the cost of their trustees; but, on the other hand, these 'non-provided' schools were to receive assistance from the rates in the same way as 'provided' schools, formerly called board schools; while the trustees of these 'non-provided' schools were allowed to appoint a

majority of the managers. These last two provisions were bitterly resented by the Nonconformists, and the subsequent Liberal Government made attempts to overthrow the arrangement, but were foiled by the House of Lords. After a conference between the representatives of the landlords and tenants in Ireland, the Govern ment passed an Irish Land Purchase Act in 1903. Advances were made to tenants by the State to enable them to purchase the estates of landlords who were willing to sell; landlords were induced to

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sell by the offer of a bonus of 12 per cent. ; prices were based on rents fixed by the Land Commission, and nearly seventy years were allowed for repayment to the State. Mr. Wyndham, in introducing the Bill, pointed out that under the existing Land Purchase Acts instalments had always been paid. The great success of the Act caused a difficulty, as the State could not find money quickly enough to meet all claims. The Government also passed the Licensing Act, 1904, which prescribed that when a license for selling liquor was taken away by the magistrates from an inn or public-house not on the ground of misconduct but because such a house was not required, or on some other public ground, compensation should be paid, but by the trade itself, a special tax for this purpose being imposed on licenses which were renewed. The payment of compensation in any form for the loss of an annual license was violently opposed by the Liberals and the Act was only passed by a drastic use of the closure. By the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, Distress Committees were to be established in London and other large towns to give employment or relief to the unemployed, and the expenses, not met by voluntary contributions, were to be borne by the rates. In the case of smaller local bodies the adoption of the Act was to be optional. The majority of the Poor Law Commission in 1909 reported that the Act by systematising relief work without altering its demoralising character had intensified its evils. An Aliens Act, giving power to exclude undesirable immigrants, was passed in 1905.

4. General Review of Foreign Policy. First Period. The Foreign Policy of the reign began with three traditions: (1) apprehension of the aggression of Russia; (2) attachment to Germany; (3) estrangement from France. The fear of Russian designs was the leading motive of the first period. The attempt to secure the co-operation of Germany in checking Russia's action against China by the Anglo-German Agreement of 1900 having failed, England was ready to listen to the overtures made by Japan. The estab lishment by Russia of a protectorate over Manchuria and her threatening attitude towards China and Korea aroused uneasiness in England as regards the menace to her important Chinese trade, while in Japan it excited the greatest hostility, as threatening her own independence. The result was that an Anglo-Japanese Alliance was made in January 1902 for five years. The object was stated to be to protect China and Korea from aggression. If in defence of these interests one of the allies was involved in war with one Power the other ally was to remain neutral, but if two Powers attacked, then the two allies were to make war together.