Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/198

 1901 ENGLISH HISTOEY. [srpt-

assume that, as stated to the British agent, the new members of the Raad will be permitted to use their own language.

" The acceptance of these terms by the Government of the South African Republic would at once remove the tension between the two Governments, and would in all probability render unnecessary any further intervention on the part of her Majesty's Government to secure the redress of grievances which the Outlanders would themselves be able to bring to the notice of the Executive and the Raad.

" Her Majesty's Government are increasingly impressed with the danger of further delay in relieving the strain which has already caused so much injury to the interests of South Africa, and they earnestly press for an immediate and definite reply to their present proposal.

"If it is acceded to, they will be ready to make immediate arrangements for a further conference between the President of the South African Republic and the High Commissioner, to settle all the details of the proposed Tribunal of Arbitration, and the questions referred to in the note of August 30, which are neither Outlander grievances nor questions of interpretation, but which might be readily settled by friendly communications between the representatives of the two Governments.

"If, however, as they most anxiously hope will not be the case, the reply of the South African Republic Government is negative or inconclusive, her Majesty's Government must reserve to themselves the right to consider the situation de novo, and to formulate their own proposals for a final settlement/ '

A meeting called (Sept. 15) by the Transvaal Committee of Manchester and Liverpool enabled Mr. John Morley and Mr. Courtney to give expression to the views of those who opposed the Government policy. The proceedings were a good deal interrupted, but in the end a great majority was said to have voted for a resolution which, "while recognising the pressing need for reform in the franchise laws of the Transvaal," expressed the belief that that "reform could best be secured by pacific means, and by that strict respect for the existing independence of the South African Republic to which ministers of the Queen had so repeatedly pledged themselves."

In his speech Mr. Morley said that they were all agreed as to the necessity of redressing the grievances of the Outlanders, and that it was expedient and necessary to urge the South African Republic to give a liberal, substantial, immediate fran- chise. This was a very critical time, and they must be patient — not too patient. The Government were insisting that the Outlanders should be allowed the franchise after five years' residence, and in his judgment the Transvaal could not with- draw from the five years' franchise. But the Transvaal was not the whole of South Africa. Cape Colony was a self-govern- ing colony. At the recent election a Dutch majority of twelve was returned, corresponding to a majority of eighty at home.