Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/628

 204 STATE PAPEES— TRANSVAAL. [1899.

despatches and from other official sources, that British subjects and the Outlandere generally in the South African Republic have substantial grounds for their complaints of the treatment to which they are subjected.

It is fair to assume that these complaints are directed not so much against individual cases of hardship and injustice, which may occur in even the best-governed States, as against the system under which the sufferers are debarred from all voice in the legislation under which such cases are possible, and all control of the administration through the inefficiency of which they occur. They may be summarised in the statement that under present conditions, all of which have arisen since the Convention of 1884 was signed, the Outlandere are now denied that equality of treatment which that instrument was designed to secure for them.

The conditions subsisting in the South African Republic are alto- gether inconsistent with such equality, and are in striking contrast to those subsisting in all British colonies possessing representative insti- tutions, where white men of every race enjoy equal freedom and equal justice, and newcomers are, after a reasonable period of residence, admitted to full political rights.

In the Orange Free State, where similar privileges are conceded to all aliens resident in the Republic, the Dutch burgher and the foreign immigrant who enjoys the hospitality of the State live in harmony and mutual confidence ; and the independence of the Republic is secured as well by the contentment and loyalty of all its citizens as by the good relations which prevail between its Government and those of other parts of South Africa.

Unfortunately, the policy of the 8outh African Republic has been conducted on very different lines, and but for the anxiety of her Majesty's Government to extend every consideration to a weaker State which in recent years has had just reason to complain of the action of British subjects, and may therefore be naturally prone to suspicion and indisposed to take an impartial view of the situation, the state of affaire must have led to the most serious protest and remonstrance.

Recognising, however, the exceptional circumstances of the case, her Majesty's Government have refrained since their despatch of February 4, 1896, from any pressure on the Government of the South African Republic except in cases in which there has been a distinct breach of the provisions of the Convention of 1884 ; and) they have sincerely hoped that the Government of the Republic would voluntarily meet the expectations raised by the President, and would take the neces- sary steps to secure that willing loyalty of all the inhabitants of the State which would be the best guarantee for its security and independ- ence.

They are most unwilling to depart from their attitude of reserve and expectancy, but having regard to the position of Great Britain as the paramount Power in South Africa, and the duty incumbent upon them to protect all British subjects residing in a foreign country, they cannot permanently ignore the exceptional and arbitrary treatment to which their fellow-countrymen and others are exposed, and the