Gross in London. The Government, though awaiting arrival of that Despatch from Nr. 11436. Her Majesty's Government, feels itself now already bound to remark that it britannien. considers it undesirable and inadvisable to give publicity beforehand to the 13. Feb.1896. position which the British Cabinet intends to be able to take up, in manner such as has now taken place. The position of affairs has, in opinion of the Government, been greatly complicated thereby, and the Government is compelled not only to remark that it cannot tolerate any interference or meddling, however [?] well meant, in internal affairs of which mention is made in the said telegram and Despatch from Secretary of State but it is also further compelled to make this letter public through medium of 'Staats Courant.' The endeavours thus far used by the Government to obtain in a just and peaceful manner the ultimate settlement of a good understanding between South African Republic and England will, in its opinion, be made much more difficult, to the great danger of the rest and peace not only of Republic but of the whole of South Africa, by arousing afresh and inciting to disturbance the minds of the inhabitants. (Signed) Van Boeschoten, Acting State Secretary."— Translation Ends. Nr. 11437. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Kolonialminister an den Gouverneur in Kapstadt. Antwort auf das Vorige. No. 3. Telegram. || 14th February. No. 3. Sent 1 a. m., February 15, 1896. Gross 13th February, No. 1,*) communicate with President of South African Republic britannien. in the sense of what follows. || Express my regret that he should have been 15. Feb. 1896. annoyed by publication of my Despatch. My object was to place House of Commons in possession of facts and of policy of Her Majesty's Government. I did not suppose that he would object, as it contains nothing new to him except suggestion as to local autonomy. As to this point, we have to deal with demand of majority of population for franchise and for a fair proportion of political power, neither of which they possess at present. One answer hitherto given by supporters of Government of the South African Republic is that it would be suicidal to grant these, as the first use which the majority would make of the franchise would be to overturn the existing Government and to set up another of their own making. I thought that there was some force in this objection, and therefore proposed in my Despatch an alternative suggestion which would at any rate meet that difficulty. I do not, however, attach any importance to the proposal, which was put forward tentatively to meet a particular object, and, if it is not well received by either Uitlanders or President of the South African Republic, Her Majesty's Government have not the slightest intention to press it. All they ask in that case would be *) Nr. 13436. britannien. Nr. 11437. that President will himself suggest some alternative. || Turning to another subGross- ject, I wish to remove some erroneous impressions respecting visit of Mr. Rhodes 15. Feb. 1896. to Colonial Office which have found expression here, because such matters are often telegraphed to South African Republic and made use of by persons who are friends neither to this country nor to South Africa generally. It has been suggested that my Despatch was in some way influenced by what passed between me and Mr. Rhodes. The fact is that it was finished and signed before I saw him. I did not show it to him. He was not aware of it till after publication. No alteration was made in it in consequence of his visit. I am alone responsible for it. Another point is that neither I nor Her Majesty's Government had anything to do with decision of Mr. Rhodes to return to South Africa. This was regarded by us as a matter entirely for him, and I offered him no advice or opinion on it. He told me he intended to return with sole object of developing Rhodesia. A few weeks ago he was the most powerful man in South Africa, not only as being Managing Director of the British South Africa Company, but as Prime Minister of the Cape and as the British statesman who had been most conspicuously successful in bringing together the two races and in securing a united support from them in his policy. He had, moreover, under his control all the forces and resources of the British South Africa Company. Now he is no longer in office and does not control a single disciplined policeman. Under these circumstances his return to South Africa cannot cause alarm, as, whatever the suspicions of him entertained by the Government of the South African Republic, it is absolutely impossible for him to do mischief. || I regret the terms of the President's message forwarded in your telegram, for I think that they are due to a misapprehension. I have approached him in this matter as a friend to him and the Republic. No true friend will counsel a refusal to meet the legitimate grievances of a majority of the population, and as a friend I have counselled him to voluntarily concede something to their claims. I do not consider that the President should resent this, but, in any case, I shall continue to endeavour by every legitimate means to secure that justice which hitherto has been denied. || As regards the President's visit, I have conveyed a cordial invitation to him, and if he is pleased to accept it he will be received not only by Her Majesty's Government but by all parties in this country with the respect due to his position and character. If he should come, I believe personal negotiation would clear away misunderstanding and pave way to a settlement of the difficult questions that still remain the subject of negotiation. The foregoing is the substance of what I said on these topics in the House of Commons in the evening of 13th February, with general approval. Nr. 11438. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Kolonialminister. Präsident Krüger scheint geneigt zur Reise nach London. Telegram. Received 10.55 a. m., February 16, 1896. Gross 16th February. No. 2. Your telegram of 14th February, Nr. 11438. No. 3, received and sent on to British Agent in the South African Republic britannien. to be handed to President of South African Republic. || I have a private and 16. Feb.1896. very friendly letter from President of the South African Republic, written since receipt by him of your message of 6th February, in which he writes as if he had quite determined to visit England. I am told that the Hollanders about him are averse to his acceptance of your invitation, but that he himself strongly wishes to go, and will do so if the Volksraad give him leave. Nr. 11439.*) GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Präsidenten der Südafrikanischen Republik. Government House, Cape Town, January 28, 1896. Gross britannien. Sir I am directed by Her Majesty's Government to tender to your Ho- Nr. 11439. nour a cordial invitation to visit England, with a view of discussing with them all those questions which relate to the security of the South African Republic 28. Jan. 1896. and the general welfare of South Africa. || I am to add that, although Her Majesty's Government cannot consent to modify Article 4 of the London Convention, other matters are open to friendly discussion. || Her Majesty's Government hope that your Honour will come as the guest of the British Government, who will make suitable arrangements for your entertainment, and will also arrange for one of Her Majesty's ships to convey you to England from Delagoa Bay or any other port preferred by you. || Your Honour may probably desire to be accompanied by one or more of your Executive Council (or other officials) and, if so, the invitation extends to them also. || It affords me much pleasure to be the medium of conveying this invitation to your Honour, and I trust that, should you see your way to accept it, the result of your visit may prove beneficial to the whole of South Africa. I have, &c. Hercules Robinson, High Commissioner. Nr. 11440. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Telegram. Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Kolonialminister. Präsident Krüger setzt Received 10.50 p, m., March 1, 1896. 1st March. No. 1. Have received from President of South African Republic the Despatch in reply to your invitation promised by his *) Chamberlain erhielt eine Abschrift hiervon am 26. Februar. Red. Nr. 11440. Grossbritannien. 1. März 1896. Nr. 11440. telegram of 8th February forwarded in mine of 10th February No. 3. || PresiGross- dent of South African Republic commences by reciting his telegram of 8th britannien. 1. März 1896. February; and, before specifying in detail the points which he desires to discuss, observes that his object is to pave way for a friendly discussion, and although he asks for no positive or direct assent to the desires expressed, he nevertheless, to prevent misunderstanding, asks for an assurance that they will be taken into the most mature consideration, with the earnest desire to comply with his wishes. This assurance he considers reasonable, looking to his advanced age and the public and personal inconvenience attending his absence, and without such assurance the Volksraad in all probability would not grant its consent. Further, the Despatch has in view a friendly explanation of matters, and does not profess to be a formal summing-up of claims or demands which South African Republic believes itself entitled to make, and therefore the letter is written without prejudice as regards an eventual statement in detail of lawful rights, which the Government will resort to if a friendly discussion of matters should fail. Lastly, he states that your telegram of 6th February, received after his Despatch of 8th February, made him fear it would be impossible for him to visit England. The general tendency of your telegram made him fear that an interference with internal matters was intended, but since receipt of your reply to his telegram of 12th February he observes with satisfaction that that fear was not justified, and he again declares himself prepared to accept invitation. Although the Government could not tolerate interference with its internal relations, and the official discussion of affairs with the object of requiring changes therein will have to be avoided, at the same time, private hints from statesmen of experience in the true interests of the country and its independence will always be warmly appreciated from whatever side they may come. || With these prefatory remarks he proceeds to sum up the points which, in his opinion, should be brought under discussion. First, withdrawal of London Convention of 1884, because in several respects it has virtually ceased to exist, because in other respects it has no more cause for existence, because it is injurious to dignity in [? of] independent Republic, because the continual arguments [? on] the question of suzerainty, which since the conclusion of London Convention of 1884 no longer exists, are used as a pretext, especially by a libellous press, for inciting white and black against the Republic, and for bringing about misunderstanding between England and South African Republic. In the discussion of withdrawal of London Convention of 1884, Article No. IV. should naturally not be kept back. He believes British Government have decided to make no alteration in this Article on false representation that Government of South African Republic have sought protection of other Powers. He asserts there is nothing further from his thoughts than the protection of any foreign Power, which he will never seek. Neither he nor his people will tolerate an interference with their Gross internal relations from any Power whatever, and he is willing to give the Nr. 11440. necessary assurances for this in order that Her Majesty's Government need britannien. have no fear that Her Majesty's interests in South Africa will be injured. || 1. März 1896. Secondly, the substitution should be discussed of any treaties of peace, friendship, and commerce in lieu of London Convention of 1884, by which the existing privileges of England in the dominion of commerce and intercourse and the interests of British subjects in South African Republic will be guaranteed on the footing of the most favoured nation, and herein he would be prepared to go to the utmost of what can reasonably be asked. || Thirdly, will have to be discussed the required guarantees against a repetition of violation of territory proceeding from territory of British South Africa Company or the Cape, and of disturbing military operations and unlawful military, or police, or even private movements on border of South African Republic. || Fourthly, should be discussed compensation for direct and indirect injury to be given, or caused to be given, by England for the recent raid. The amount to be demanded will, if required, be given before his departure for England. These are the four points on which President of South African Republic considers discussion indispensable, but there are three others which he would very much like to have discussed, in reference to which, however, he does not insist on an assurance beforehand. They are:- First, final settlement of Swaziland question, with a view to its becoming part of South African Republic. Secondly, in connection with Swazilad, a regulation favourable to South African Republic as regards disposition of Zambaan's territory and Umbegesa's. And, thirdly, revocation of charter of British South Africa Company, which, if it does not take place, will continue a threatened danger to the peace of South African Republic, and thereby also to whole of South Africa. The concluding four paragraphs of the Despatch contain expressions of President of South African Republic's opinion that all his desires put forward are fair, and that when Her Majesty's Government take into consideration the attitude which he and people of South African Republic have taken up in connection with the recent raid, in spite of all the calumny and false reports, they will comply with his wishes, in the interests of South African Republic and also of England. This will pave way for the making of a firm bond of friendship which should exist if South Africa is to meet a prosperous future. || He declares himself prepared for a voluntary and hearty co-operation, and believes that in this he is interpreter of every true Afrikander. He will be pleased to receive the views of Her Majesty's Government, in order that he may submit the matter for decision of his Volksraad. || The foregoing is a résumé of a Despatch which extends over eleven typewritten pages, but I think no material point has been overlooked. |