The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-10

Terms OF the Agreement Between the
Republic and Great britain.

Philadelphia Press.
The position and rights OF the South
African republic were fixed and formally
recognized by England in the convention
OF Feb. "a, 1884, signed at the Colonial Office
I'm London by Sir Hercules Robinson. al
high commissioner for South Africa, on
behalf of the Queen, and by the delegates
on behalf OF the Transvaal state, there
after to be called the South African re-
public. The convention amended the south
west boundary of the Transvaal. line
was drawn to the east of the slave route
from the Cape Colony. TO the interior or
South Africa. and the territory of Eng
lands native allies. Montsiva and Manko-
roane, were excluded from the Transvaal.
In the country outside the new boundary
British protectorate was established. The
chief articles of the convention. and those
that have a bearing on the present contro-
versy, are as follows:
article 2. The government of the South
African republic will strictly adhere to the
boundaries defined in the first article OF
this convention, and will do its utmost TO
prevent any OF its inhabitants from making
any encroachments upon lands beyond the
said boundaries. Her Majesty's government
will. If necessary, appoint commissioners
in the native territories outside the eastern
and western borders of the South African
republic to maintain order and prevent
encroachments.
'Article g. IL a British officer Is appointed
to preside at Pretoria or elsewhere within
the South African republic 10 discharge
functions analogous TO those OF a consular
officer, he will receive the protection ana
assistance of the republic.
article 4. The South African republic
will conclude no treaty or engagement with
any state or nation other than the Orange
Free State, nor with any native tribe 10
the eastward or westward OF the republic,
until the same has been approved by her
AIos h. t0fa
be considered to have been granted III her
MajestyS government shall not, within SIX
months after receiving copy Oh such
treaty (Which shall be delivered to them
immedia tely upon its completion), have notl-
fed that the conclusion OF such treaty Is
in conflict with the interests OF Great Brit
ain or of any OF her MaJestys possessions
in South Africa
On Feb 2S, 1884, the day following the ac-
ceptance of the convention, the Pail Mall
Budget, of London, opposing the govern
ment commented editorially upon the
agreement, as follows: 1.-THE full terms of
the new settlement, which are now before
us, show that the government. however
reluctantly, has definitely accepted new
policy, the central principle OF which is the
definition and the concentration of respon-
sbility Under the Pretoria convention re-
sponsbilities were mixed. Neither the Beers
nor the British were absolute masters in
the Transvaal, while the Beers had all
the power, and the responsibility arising
from the possession of power. The formal
responsibility for the protection OF the na-
tives was imposed upon us. while, at the
sane time we were given no adequate
power for the discharge of our duties short
of a threat of war. The new convention
changes all that. 1t makes the Boer abSo-
lutte master in his own house. He shall
do as he peeses in the Transveal. He has
changed his name TO begin with. 1t is no
longer the Transvaal state. but the South
African republic. There will no longer be a
British resident at Pretoria. There will be
no imperium imperio. The suzerainty is re-
duced to an attenuated shadow. Its ghost
fingers in the fourth article by which ii is
stipulated that no treaty or engagement
with any state or nation other than the
Orange Free State. or with any native
tribe 10 the east or west Of the republic.
shall be concluded without the approval OF
the Queen To the north, therefore, and
TO the south, even this miserable remnant
of our suzerainty does not exist