The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
THEIR TRANsrAAL CONCESSION.
An English Story of Dom Paupa Shire wt-
ness In IA Business Transaction.
From the Toronto Globe

From the Toronto Globe
An exceedingly curious and interesting story
about President Kruger has been related by a
resident of Toronto who has spent a number of
years in South Africa, and is well acquainted
with conditions in that part of the world The
story was related to him by one Of the PRINCIPAL
actors in the incident, whose name the informant
mentioned, although it would not be judicious
to give II publicity II will suffice to ga that the
name was instantly recognized as that of person
who is exceedingly well known in connection with
South Afncan affairs. II may be added that the
story, so far as is known, has not been published
In 1884 Paul Kruger. Jorissen and two other
delegates from the Transvaal were in London
negotiating with Lord Derby the famous London
Convention which has been SO assiduously can
vassed and quoted of late No one has ever &C
cused the burghers Of the Transyaa OF being an
especially docile set, and during the absence OF
Kruger and his fellow leaders one of the not in
frequent civic connections took place at home.
Not particularly important in itself il had the
disagreeabe effect Of stopping supplies for the
country quariette OF dip omats; and Dom Pau
They could not pay their hotel bill and their cir.
cumstenoes were awkward in every way.
AT this iunCturc the Engishman appeared on
the scene. lie was staying in London. was famii-
lar with South Africa and its public men, and
SsF1s @ He
An acute business man, he saw an opportunity
i was before th' days OF the Witwatersrand, and
SsSRs RTSdHoS sa sn "P9
a wealthy Yorkshire woollcn manufacturer
Enlistlng mis- uncle aid, he made a proposition
TO Mr.; Kruger The two Englishmen would pay
the obnoxious hotel bill. and would supplement
itwith cash gift Of 81 900 In return they asked
a concession for the monopoly OF the wool manu-
featuring and the wool washing OF the Transyaal
In which II Is TO be recollected considerable oCkS
Of sheep are kept by the Beers Mr., Kruger
was wiped of the books. The thousand pound
check foun1 its resting place. Thus provided
with the sinews OF war, Kruger and his fellow
delegates continued the negotiations The Lon
don Convention was signed
The Englishmen went ahead with their plans
They Intended to erect mill to manufacture
certain wooden goods that would find a local mar
ket and TO control the export of the surplus wool
They were to get a certain tract Of land rs acres
in extent The City of Johannesburg 10. day
cry and were ready TO ship il. Just then they
mentioned their good bargain to a friend who was
an official in the Colonial Office.
AS an official, observed that friend. my mouth
is closed But, speaking as friend-dont ship
that machinery until the concession is ratified
by tho Volksraad."
Second thoughts prevailed The Englshmen
waited. The Volksraad met and President
Kruger submitted the proposed concession 10 them
exhiblting no warmth In its advocacy, The
men were glad that they had not shipped that
machinery.
Then the Englishmen preached TO President
Kruger tho question of that thousand pounds
and thathotel bill. The President was as suave
as Dom Paul ever ~ Those sums he explained
were 10 be charged against the republic, AS
Stephanus johannes PauluR Kruger he had moth
ing 70 do with the matter
Neither II soapA. had the republic for tho
Hnglishnen arestM minus their little Investment