The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-10-24
THR SOUTH AFRICAN WAR: THE
NEGOTIATIONS.

The Outlook has already given a his
tory of the events which, beginning
with the exodus of the Beers from
Cape Colony in 1885 and the founding
of the Transvaal Republic, have pre-
ceded and prefac8d the present war
in South Africa. To the sc articles we
refer the reader who wishes &c Ut der
sta nd the course of events which has
eliminated in the negotiations finally
broken eff by the ultimatum of the
T~raDsvaaI Republic. Without further
comment on tt e mutual suspicion and
the lneradica0le incopgruity between
the stolid and apathetic Beers and the
ambitious and aggressive British which
perveded and embittered this diplo
matte intercourse, we here brie fly sum
mar,za it, that the reader may com
prehend it's elimination:
May Twenty one thousand Uttlan
ders presented to the British Govern
mens a petition praying for redress
Of grievances Endorsed by Sir Alfred
Miner, Governor Of Cape Colony and
High Commissioners for South Africa.
My 81 Sr Alfred Miner and Pres,
ideng Kruger have a conference in
which Sir Alfred demands that five
years shall be suficient to ecure the
franchise, with a naturalization oath
similar to that in the Orange Free
State. President Kruger consents to
halve the present RET idence of four
teen years, but insists on Great Brit
ain abandonment of her claim to
s~uzerainty.
july. The V0lksraad grants retro
spectlve franchise after seven years
residence, despite British protest that
it will not be satisfactory. The Brit
ISL Government proposes a joint con
ference.
august. President Kruger, as an
alternative, proposes to accept five
years residence, provided Great Brit
ain abandons her claim to ~suz8reinty
and pledges herself never again to in
terfere in TransvRal affairs. Great
Britain refuses to make such pledges,
but ~reproposes conference IN all points
at issue.
September. President Krugar with
draw y proposal for five years residence
for franchise, but consents to q con
ference, on the condition that the
Tcansvaal shall be recognized in the
conference as a sovereign State, involv-
ing an abandonment OF the suz9Eainty
of Great Britain and its rights to inter
fere. Great Britain refuses to accept
these conditions. and promises to form
uIate atresh it's demands. Three weeks
pass by. During that time the British
Government is evidently making prep
a~rations for possible war. Meanwhile
Mr.. Chamberlain officially gives the
assurance of the Government that
there Yves mo desire to interfere in
any way with the South African Re
public" and offers 'to give a complete
guarantee agar 8 any attack upon that
independence either from within any
part of the British dominions or from
the territory Of a foreign State"
October 10 The Tcansvaal Republic
sends it's ultimatum to London, de.
maudiDg % that all points of mutual
difference shall be regulated by diplo-
macy or ar oitration; % that all British
troops on the borders of the Trans.
vaal Republic shall be instantly with.
dra WI 81 that all reinforcements Of
troops that have arrived in South
Africa since June 1 shall be removed,
and "a that troops now on the seas
shall not be landed in any part of south
Africa. Finally, if these four demands
are not acceded to before five o'clock
the next day, the Transvaal Govern
ment will regard the failure ''as a for
NAL declaration Of War."-New York
Outlook.