Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/641

 1899.] STATE PAPEKS— TRANSVAAL. 217

which, in the event of agreement upon that question, it is most desirable to settle at an early date.

You are requested to communicate this despatch to the Govern- ment of the South African Republic, and to express the hope of her Majesty's Government that, in view of the urgent necessity of putting an end to the present unsettled state of affairs in South Africa, the Government of the South African Republic will find it possible to agree at an early date to the proposals made therein.

I have, etc.,

J. Chamberlain.

BOER ULTIMATUM.

Telegram. High Commissioner Sir Alfred Milner to Mr. Chamberlain. (Received, Colonial Office, 6-46 a.m. October 10, 1899.)

October 9. No. 3.— Following telegram received from British agent:—

Begins: Following full text of note received from the Government of the South African Republic bearing date to-day : —

Begins : —

Sir, — The Government of the South African Republic feels itself compelled to refer the Government of her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland once more to the Convention of London, 1884, con- cluded between this Republic and the United Kingdom, and which [? in] its XlVth Article secures certain specified rights to the white popula- tion of this Republic, namely, that [here follows Article XIV. of Conven- tion of London, 1884]. This Government wishes further to observe that the above are only rights which her Majesty's Government have reserved in the above Convention with regard to the Outlander population of this Republic, and that the violation only of those rights could give that Government a right to diplomatic representations or intervention ; while, moreover, the regulation of all other questions affecting the position or the rights of the Outlander population under the above- mentioned Convention is handed over to the Government and the representatives of the people of the South African Republic. Amongst the questions the regulation of which falls exclusively within the com- petence of the Government and of the Volksraad are included those of the franchise and representation of the people in this Republic, and although thus the exclusive right of this Government and of the Volks- raad for the regulation of that franchise and representation is indis- putable, yet this Government has found occasion to discuss in a friendly fashion the franchise and the representation of the people with her Majesty's Government, without, however, recognising any right thereto on the part of her Majesty's Government. This Government has also, by the formulation of the now existing Franchise Law and the resolu- tion with regard to representation, constantly held these friendly dis- cussions before its eyes. On the part of Her Majesty's Government, however, the friendly nature of these discussions has assumed a more and more threatening tone, and the minds of the people in this republic