The herald., 1896-02-08
Reviewed By Chamberlain, Sec
retary for Colonies
GREAT BRITAIN'S POSITION
Transvaal External Relations Subject to
British Control
Testimony In the Trial of the Members Of
the Reform Commlttce-Ham.
mond Out on Bail

Ass ocia.ed Press Special Wira.
LONDON, Feb. THE dispatch of the
secratary of state for the colonies. Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain, of February 4th, to
the governor of Cape Colony, SirHercules
Robinson, was gazetted this evening. 1t
reviews the history of events in the Trans
vaal since 1891 and points out the mining
interests, the mainstay OF the country, are
mainly in the hands of the Uitlanders who
are debarred by legislation from the rights
of citizenship, and states that the
whole direction of affairs and the rights
of taxation remain q monopoly in the
hands of decreasing minority of the pop
ulation engaged in agriculture, while the
majority who raised the revenues from
f75,OOO to f2,OOO,OOO, are denied any
voice in the government of the Traasvaal
and are unable to obtain redress for the
formidable grievances hampering and in-
juring them necessarily. Mr.. Chamber
lain emphasizes the pacific and aboveboard
character of the Uitlander agitation and
recalls that the Uitanders' petitions were
rejected by the Volksraad amid scornful
laughter, one member of that body chaI-
longing the Uitlanders To take up arms and
fight.
The massing of the Bechuauala nd police
at Mefeklng did not cau'e anxiety, as it
was understood to be merely rendezvous
prior to disbanding. When it was sug-
ees,ed cu the 20th of December that the
chartered coInpany's police might inter-
vene at Johannesburg it appeared incred-
ible, but Mr.. Chamberlain wired warning
to Governor Robinson instructing him TO
warn Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the premier of
~ Of tl,n ne
fortunately DR.. Jameson had already en-
tered the Transvaal. The document then
reviews tho subsequent events until Gov
ernor Robinson returned to Cape Town,
mentioning that Pre- sident Kruger refused
Governor Robinson's definite assurances
that reforms would be granted the Uitland-
ers. owing to the suspicion that there was
a widespread conspiracy to overthrow the
constitution, which MIR. Chamberlain did
not regard as an adequate reason.
He then proceeds to state the position OF
Great Britain and her claims towards the
Transvaal. saying:
"Since the convention of 1884 Great
Britain has recognized the Trsnsvaal as in
dependent internally, but its external re.
lations are subject to the control OF Great
Britain. There is no reason TO anticipate
that foreign state will dispute our righ!s;
but it ia necessary to state clearly that tue
government iDtends to Insntain thsn III
justified, in South Africa asa whole and
for the stability Of tho iiansvaat. TO tan'
der friendly counsel Regarding the new
Corners, mainly British snisects."
The dispatch thea deals at lsngth With
the grieva nces of the Rand. and expresses
Mr.. Chamber!sin's belief that the difficulty
of naturalization and the franchise is 10 be
met by granting the franchise after five
years residence and the removal of the
Objectionable features OF the oath OF alle-
glance, which would s,iIl deprive the oath
taker Of his status as a British subject.
Chamberlain then suggests the considera-
ton of the other es-taxasiou. edu-
cation and monopolies, and especially the
classification Of UitIanders-and proposes
that the Rand be accorded modified local
autonomy, including control of it's own
taxation, subject to the payment to
the government of an annual sliding
tribute based on the fluctuations of
the mining industry, such legislation to be
subjec. to the veto of the president and
executive.
Mr.. Chamberlain further suggests that
the Rand also be given superior law
court, and that the Randers be not entitled
to voice in the volksraad or in the presi-
dents election, thus relieving the bur2hers
of their haunting fear that the newcomers
would utilize the franchise to upset. their
form Of government.
The dispatch concludes:
These suggestions are not offered in
deroga,ion of the presidents authority, but
as & sincere and friendly contribution of
her majesty government to the settlement
the quetude of the republic and the well
fare and progress Of South Africa"
As the settlement involves so many de-
tails which are easier settled by a personal
conference. Mr.. Chamberlain suggests to
President Kruger that if it is convenient
and agreeable to him, he should come to
England.
4 Pretoria dispatch to the Times says:
John Hays Hammond, the American min-
ing engineer, was liberated on account of
illness and his bail was fixed at 100000,
but he was under police supervision and ia
not allowed to see visitors without per-
NIT.
A newspaper inspired by the government
denies that the Transvaal desires to secure
"a European protector, and admits that
Great Britain is the paramount power in
South Africa and most ANXIOUS TO secure
the Dutch republic against the encro@ch.
ments of other powers. The article then
asks why Great Britain does not guarantee
the independence of the Transvaal against
against all comers, seeing that the British
and the Transvaal interests are identical.
"Why should the Transvaal,' this news
paper asks, "he at the mercy OF marauder5
when it might have in Great Britain big
brother for protection? Why should the
Transvaul maintain standing army when
at a. word from England its independence
could be upheld? Under such an arrange
menu there would be no need for the
Transvaal to acquire its own seaport.
mutual agreement guaranteeing perman-
ent access to Delagoa bay would suffice"
The Times also has an editorial discuss
ing the foregoing dispatch, in which it
says: "In principle it suggests little or
nothing with which England need hesitate
to comply"
A Times dispatch from Pretoria ex.
pressed the fear that the prisoners liber-
nted on bail will not be allowed to pro-
ceed to Johannesburg.
ut il most important," says the dis
patch. "from both business and politi-
cal point of view, that these men should be
permitted to return to their occupations"
A draft of the press law was issued to-
day, compelling the signature of the per-
sonal and political articles published,
placing heavy restrictions and penalties
upon the press and empowering the presi-
dent to exclude foreign publications from
the country"
An editorial in the Times says:
We are enabled to make the important
announcement that arrangements concern
ing the affairs OF the Chartered South Afri-
can company have been Professionally set
tied, Hon. Cecil Rhodes will return
Immediately and take up his residence at