New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-07
ENGLAND,S WISHES MET.
THE vOLKSRAAD REPEALS THE TRANo-
VAA-. IMMIGRATION LAW.

Pretoria. May 6.-The voksraad held pro-
tracted secret session yesterday to discuss ,he
answer to be made to the dispatches OF ME-
Chamberlain. British ecretary Of State for the
Colonies. which demanded repeal of the Trans
yaal Immigration law To-day the Volksraao
repealed the law not because II was breach oi
the London Convention. but because 1t was ois-
tasteful to neighboring States Mr.. Coster' .he
Transvaa State Attorney. has rendered Ills
resignation in disapproval OF the repeal.
The position taken by Mr. Chamberlain on 'he
subject OF the Transvaal Alien Immigration
law was stated in his dispatch to Lord fosiliea''
the British High Commissioner at the Cape'
under date of December Is. 1896. he sa'o "
Lord Rosrnead
Inform the Government of the South African
Republic that Her Majesty's Government can
not in view of Article XIV OF the Lonooh |o"
vention admit that the Government oi '"e
South African Republic has right OF eSpe'hhs
or restricting foreigners who are not SHOWN "
have failed to conform to the laws Oh 'he i
public and that Her Majesty's Government re-
serves the right OF objecting to proceeoi"ss
under the act which may amount 10 oreac" -
the convention. Inform the Governmeh' Vi '',e
South African Republic that her Ma'es''
Government Is advised that the Aleh ii'.''"e
ton law infringes Article XIV OF 'he '''N
Convention, inasmuch as by IT new ana Dur
densome conditions. I'm most cases propdp's III
possible to fulfil. are imposed on persons WIN
under the convention are at full liberty u e"'e'
and reside in the South African Repuphc Oh coh
dition Of conforming to it's laws. You VIII s'a'e
that Her Majesty's Government appreciates '"e
repeated assurances Of Presiden. hruser 'na'
tho Government Of the South African Republic
has no intention Of departing from the terms Oh
the London Convention. and therefore feeis con-
fdent that It will not attempt to enforce the
law"
Tn q ,etter 70 Lord Rosmead explaining the
reasons for the dispatch Mr.. Chamberlain sa'i
the British Government could not accept the
Alien Immigration law as an ordinary ponce Id"
within the terms Of Article XIV or the Lohuoi'
Convention. which declares that all persons o'he'
than natives conforming themselves 10 the iaW
Of the South African Republic shall nave iuii Nv
ertv to enter travel live in any part Vi '"e
Ronubuc The Alien immigration law provided
that such persons should not be at liberty to ~,
ter or live in the Republic Unless they coulu
sbov, afTirmativey that they had tne heans y,
ability to support themselves MI CIail, CIa, ~ 49,
argued that as the only condltoh liiPoSeu the
convention is that they should conform 10 tle
laws of the Republic the new law WOULD ne ui'i
wires and moreover would impose .furtner cor, ~
dition of a burdensOme nature Whlch II ,.I, nsno
dificult for many Of the poorer though Perie|'iS
respectable immigrants to satisfy
London. MAY IA dispatch to The Times
from Cane Town SAYS that Mr.. Coster' the
Transvaal state Attorney, resigned because ol
tho rejection by the Voksraad OF his too belii
cose draft of the proposed reply 10 MI nam
berans dispatch asking Lord Rosmead &c
inform the Government OF the South AIrlcai
Republic that the British Government !ei. co, W,
fdont that there would be no attempt 70 Ell
force the Alien immigration Law in the Trans
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