The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-29
The Transvaal Suzerainty Question.

It now seems pretty certain that PrcsI-
dent KRGGER is prepared to grant all
and more than all Sir ALFRED MINER
demanded. on condition that England re-
nounces her claim to suzeranty over
the South African Republic. AS this
stipulation in the present state of Brit
ish feeling is quite inadmssibe, the
situation remains much as it was. In
some ways, what with active prepare
tons for war on both Sides the revlingS
OF the English press and such vigorous
language as Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN allowed
himself to use last Saturday, the tension is
greater In other ways it Is less. The
President has climbed down considerably
since the Bloemfontein Conference and his
latest offer shows that the old obstinate
non possunus attitude has been finally
abandoned.
The London Convention Of SS4 undoubt-
edly gives to Great Britain certain powers
Of control over the Transvaal. 1t binds the
Republic to conclude no treaty or engage
ment with any state or nation other than
the Orange Free State, nor with any native
tribe to the eastward or westward of the
Republic, until the same has been approved
terms OF this clause it is clear that the
South African Republic is not a fully indie
pendent state. No state can properly be
called Independent which is prohibited
from managing its foreign affairs in its
own way. The Transvaal is free to arrange
treaties with the Orange Free State. With all
other nations, as with all native tribes it's
relations are controlled by the British Gov
eminent Whether the veto thus vested in
the Queen amounts To a suzerainty cannot
be settled until WE know what a suzerainty
is; and that nobody can tell us The term
has little standing in international law.
WHEATON gives an extreme case where the
vassal nation is forbidden to have flag
or standing army whore all taxes are col
lected in the name Of the suzeran power
and where the subordinate Government is al
lowed no liberty ofnegotiaton or diplomacy.
On the other hand the Sultan is called and
generally acknowledged to be the suzeran
Of Egypt though Egypt is governed by the
British with hardly a thought Of the Yildiz
Kiosk. Between these two extremes there
Is plenty Of room for Great Britain's claim
to n suZcrainty over the Transvaal.
That, of course, Is merely matter OF
words and definitions. What tho President
really agrees to is the gift of the franchise in
return for the abrogaton of the London Con-
vention. Tho Beers want to feel their
status as a nation placed beyond doubt. As
a high-spirited patriotic people, it gals
them to know that after all these years OF
struggle they arc still in position of semi
dependence. Place u.s." they say to the
British, ION an equality with yourselves,
Il 1, -. a..
the franchise. Cancel the Convention, and
wewll alter our domestic economy to meet
your views"
This proposal willy not be listened to by
Englishmcn, because on occasion they can
still live up 60 GoETHE's description of them
as nation Of pedants. They have sur.
rounded the London Convention with a
mysterious sanctity that has no iustifca.
tin in reason. From seeing their Govern
ment constantly at work defending il
against real or alleged breaches, thew have
come to think it something very we'll worth
defending, and speak and write OF 1t as q
sort of Magma Charta OF British dominion
In South Africa. Yet. If the question of re
Vising or cancellinG its clumsy clauses were
TO be put before the country temperatel,
and without prejudice. it is hard to imagin,
where the defenders Of the Convention woulC
spring from. The document was hurried,
and carelessly drafted to bring to its quick
est end an issue OF which every one wa,
wcaricd; 1t was 30 little thought OF befor,
the discovery of gold that the Beers VIC
lated it time and again without rebuke
abov" all, ii dealt with a state Of affair
that has altered in every particular sine
Its PRONUNCIATION.
Most Englishmen conceive its virtue t,
lie in the clause that regulates the externa
affairs OF the Transvaal. But what, afte
all is that clause WORTH 1t has irritate,
and Inundated the Beers without benefit
Ing England in a single essential 1t ha