PROPAGANDA CARTOON PICTURE POSTCARDS

The postcard illustrated here is of British production although the publisher has yet to be identified. The address side has a divided-back printed in vermilion. The space for the stamp states 'INLAND / ½d. / STAMP' and running-up at left side of the card 'THE PICTORIAL POLITICAL SERIES. PRINTED AND DESIGNED IN ENGLAND'. The picture side in colour illustrates Joseph Chamberlain, riding on a donkey, captioned 'THE TRIUMPHAL PROGRESS OF THE EX-COLONIAL SECRETARY” and “PREPARING THE WAY FOR HIS FRIENDS THE BRITISH WORKING-MAN'. The raft on the Indian Ocean depicts a Chainman with hands stretched out towards Joseph Chamberlain.

Joseph Chamberlain had little or nothing to do with the introduction of Chinese indentured labour to the Witwatersrand gold fields during 1904. The British Prime Minster, Arthur Balfour, had written to the King on 16^th September, 1903 informing him that Chamberlain had resigned from the Cabinet and it was not until February of 1904 that the British Government were framing the Regulations under the Ordinance as passed by the legislative Council to satisfy the Chinese Government. Therefore this cartoon was produced between September 1903 and the introduction of Chinese labourers to the Transvaal in June 1904.

Working class fears of imported cheap labour were deep rooted and this propaganda postcard is mindful of such feelings. However, this type of cartoon had no effect on Chamberlain’s popularity with his West Birmingham constituents who always remained faithful. He was well remembered for his long career in public service as Mayor of Birmingham and his municipalisation monopoly scheme. In December 1910 he was elected to Parliament unopposed, for the last time, although having suffered a stroke he had lost his voice - a cruel burden for a man who had always embraced public speaking.

References
1 Powell, J. E., (1977), Joseph Chamberlain, London, passim.
2 Woolgar, J., (2009), Joseph Chamberlain – “Poor Old Joe”, The Transvaal Philatelist, Vol.44, No.1 (169) February, 2009, p.20.
3 Command Papers; British Parliamentary Papers, HMSO, London. Cd.1945, Correspondence respecting the Introduction of

Chinese Labour into the Transvaal. (February 1904).

Acknowledgement
I am grateful and indebted to the late Joan Matthews.