Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-07-30
Not the Mainspring Of the
Trouble in South Africa.
BRITISH INTEREST AT STAKE
If War With the TranSVsaI Should
Break Out IL Will Result From
the State of Mind in England
Rather Than From Any Sps CIfic
Cause or the Present Aggrava-
fion,

London, July 29.-Both in London
and apparently at the Cape, the larger
question of the supremacy of England
in South Africa is transcendins the
smaller matters of the Uitlanders'
grievances. The weight of English
opinion would hardly tolerate a war
with the Transvaal over the number
of years residence necessary for the
franchise in Johannesburg A govern
ment like Lord SaIisbury's is as un-
likely to enter upon it. The same body
of opinion would be scarcely less re-
iuctart to a war undertaken 20 secure
real instead of sham concession for
Uitlanders. An English government
making such war. which would be
in many Fights an interference in the
domestic affairs of a quasi-indepen-
dent state, would be put more or less
to the defensive before public opinion
in Europe. America and South Africa.
Even at home to justify such a war
to a democracy that is by no means
averse to military success but that
likes plain issues to justify force to-
ward white men, would not be easy.
On the other hand. South Africa is
no less an integral and essential part
of the empire than Canada or Aus
tralia- with the Dutch states existing
as huge enclosures within it, pending
ultimate absorption. The imperial in
stinct is strong alike at home and in
most of the self-governng colonies.
Once persuade it that che continued
existence of the Transvaal as a sepa-
rate and hostile state and the recur-
ring Guarrels between Beers and Tit
landers acting and reacting through
all South Africa ieopardize English
parmountcy there. and a war to re-
establish and maintain it might seem
necessary and justifiabla. 1t would
end a situation that was likely to be-
come more nd more Threatening and
fntolerable, and when the British dem
ocracy was asked to pay the bill of a
war that might be long and would
certainly be costly, it would under
s7and the reasons for the conflict as #
cannot understand negotiations over
the UitlandeTS' grievances ard respond
to them.
3 Unfortunately. the share of conspicu-
Ous Afrikander leaders from Cape
Colony III the recent negotiations at
Pretoria and their professed satfsfac-J
ton with their outcome have tended
to eXalt this question of British su
premacy. In many respects the Eng
llsh and the Dutch in the British
colonies in South Africa have common
interests. For decades, until the
quarrels between the Uftlanders and
the Beers became acute, they lived
Imicably enough. dividing politically
on other than racial lines Even since
the Jameson raid the Afrikanders q.
e., men of Dutch descent born in |
Africa have more than once support |
ed Mr.. Rhodes in Cape Colony. As
long, however, as the differences be-
tween the Uitlanders and the Beers
continued there was opportunity for
play upon racial pride and prede1ic |
lions. Very quietly and adroitly Mr. |
Kruger has encouraged this hostility |
the uses of secret service money by
the Transvaal government would /
make a most interesting narrative !
ard various Afrikander politicians in
the English colonies Il first looked ON !
without disapprovaI. Then. little by !
lib;le. they foStered the growth of All
Af1ikarder party in the southern col
onies until it WAS able to influence
and TO carry elections. AS leaders of
it Mr. HOfmeyer and Mr. Schreiner
helped to persuade President Kruger
to his recent concessions and gave
their opinion that they should prove
satisfactory o the cabinet and public
opinion in LoEdon. How far the
Afrikanders in general agree with
them it is impossible to say, but their
influence is considerable.
If war springs more from a state of
mind than from any specific cause, the
recent negotiations have made the
likelihood of it in South Africa the
greater. Mr.. Kruger's Intricate fran
chise proposals encourage the belief
in London that he means to deceive
rather than to make substantial con-
cessions. The Afrikander Share in the
of them and Afrikander
approval of them, as they appear at
This distance, have set the two races
IN South Africa on opposite sides and
;lfseti sharply the question Of British I