Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/121

 1899.] Transvaal Negotiations. [113

A. Milner's refusal to recognise the possibility of arbitration between an independent and a dependent nation. In reply to a question addressed to him from his own side of the House, Mr. Chamberlain recapitulated (June 8) the course of events at Bloemfontein. He said that it was, unfortunately, true that the conference had broken up without result, and that a new situation had thus been created. President Kruger had rejected the proposals made by Sir A. Milner, and the alternative suggested by President Kruger was considered by her Majesty's Govern- ment as entirely inadequate. The discussion, he stated, turned mainly on the question of the franchise, Sir A. Milner being of opinion that the exclusion of the Outlanders from representation was the root of the difficulties which had arisen. Having ex- plained Sir A. Milner's suggestions respecting the franchise and the counter proposals of the President, he pointed out that according to these no change whatever would take place for two years, and then only in the case of a small minority of the Out- landers. These proposals, he added, were made subject to an agreement by this country to refer all differences with the Transvaal to the arbitration of a foreign Power. Sir A. Milner had told the President that the British Government would not consent to the intervention of any foreign Power in disputes between themselves and the Government of the South African Bepublic. With reference to the indemnity for the Jameson raid, he said that Sir A. Milner had informed the President that the British South Africa Company, while protesting against the amount of the claim, would consent to submit to arbitration the amount of damages for any material injury suffered by the Transvaal in consequence of the raid. The question of the dynamite monopoly was reserved for further discussion. The despatch in answer to the petition of the Outlanders to the Queen, which had been held back pending the result of the conference, would now be communicated to the Government of the Transvaal.

A few days later, Mr. Chamberlain, in reply to various ques- tions, explained (June 13) that a foreigner coming to the United Kingdom could be naturalised after five years' residence, and could exercise the franchise six months afterwards. President Kruger's suggestion was seven years for future foreigners. Immigrants who had arrived in the Transvaal before 1890 would have to wait two and a half years from the passing of the act, and later comers five years. With regard to arbitration, he had received from Sir A. Milner a despatch in which the High Commissioner repeated that he had stated distinctly at the con- ference that arbitration was not admissible on all questions of difference, and that on no question would arbitration by a foreign Power be permitted. Since the conference, however, President Kruger had submitted a proposal on the subject of arbitration, which contemplated that the president of the arbitral tribunal should be a foreigner. The Transvaal version

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