Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/202

 194] ENGLISH HISTOEY. [sept.

a large majority ; the speakers were howled down and pelted, and a resolution which was to have been put from several plat- forms in favour of arbitration on the points in dispute, and denouncing " the spirit of unscrupulous imperialism, grasping capitalism, and aggressive militarism which is leading to the verge of war with the Transvaal Republic," was received with hootings and disapprobation.

There was certainly no haste on the part of the British Government to take any irrevocable step. Heated as the temper of the country was becoming, it was widely felt that, in its dealings with what was regarded as a third-rate military State, this country could afford to show an indulgence which would be open to misconstruction if the other party to the controversy were a Great Power. And so, though there may have been some impatience, there was little or no real dis- content when the Government, instead of presenting at Pretoria proposals for a new and comprehensive settlement, communi- cated an " interim despatch " (Sept. 22), leaving open the door for further negotiations within limited lines.

This despatch, after expressing deep regret that the Govern- ment of the South African Republic had not accepted the "moderate and conciliatory" offer made by her Majesty's Government on September 8, proceeded : " Her Majesty's Government have on more than one occasion repeated their assurances that they have no desire to interfere in any way with independence of South African Republic, provided that the conditions on which it was granted are honourably ob- served in the spirit and in the letter, and they have offered as part of a general settlement to give a complete guarantee against any attack upon that independence either from within any part of the British dominions or from the territory of a foreign State.

"They have not asserted any rights of interference in the internal affairs of the republic other than those which are derived from the conventions between the two countries, or which belong to every neighbouring Government (and especially to one which has a largely predominant interest in the adjacent territories) for the protection of its subjects and of its adjoining possessions. But they have been com- pelled by the action of Government of the South African Republic, who have in their note of May 9, 1899, asserted the right of the republic to be a sovereign international State, absolutely to deny and repudiate this claim.

" The object which her Majesty's Government have had in view in the recent negotiations has been stated in a manner which cannot admit of misapprehension — viz., to obtain such a substantial and immediate representation for the Outlanders in the South African Republic as her Majesty's Government hoped would relieve them from any necessity for further in- terference on their behalf, and would enable the Outlanders