New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-24
TRANSVAAL AFFAIRS
AN APPEAL TO AMERICAN sYMpArHr,,

Sir: The affairs Of the South African Repuhr.
commonly known as the TransvaaI have :,
Gently attracted much attention everywb.,.
throughout the civilized world: and, while a. |
tain aspects OF those affairs have been ~.
sented with great persistence 10 the gen.,.,
public, the true inwardness Of the situation ~.
had only slight chance OF becoming uniy.,.
sally known and understood. In order 10 una,
stand II properly. 1t Will be necessary briesv "a
trace back the history OF that country for pn.-
what less than a quarter OF a century
II will be remembered that at one time With,
the period just named the Transvaal wa, a.,
nexed by Great Britain upon certain al.g.a
grounds which II will serve no useful purno,.
now to recapitulate. but which at present an
generally admitted not 10 have justified the stem
then taken. The British usurpation continual
for some years. Meanwhile reports were CON-
stantly being forwarded by the local BritI,,
officials to the home Government that with N.
exception OF a few malcontents. the people OF thu
country were perfectly satisfied with the cyst.
ing state Of things. From this deception into
which England was thus lulled there was sud.
den and rude awakening when the people rose IN
arms against the foreign government After
series Of events which II is now needless 10 r.
cord Great Britain withdrew from the country.
and a convention was signed at Pretoria the
seat Of the government. whereby It was agreed
that the people Of the "Transvaal. State" IA
the country was now called under this docu.
menO should again be free TO govern them.
selves. England however retaining a so-calsd
suzerainty over this State. On account Of The
dissatisfaction OF the people with certain o.
noxious clauses in this convention. and more
particularly with that one which related to this
suzerainty, representations on the subject were
successfully made to the British Government BY
certain duly appointed representatives Of the
people and new agreement, known as The
London Convention was substituted in the place
of the former Convention Of Pretoria.
BRITISH sUzERAINTY ABANDONED
This was in 1884 In view OF the subsequent
events. II is necessary TO remark that Lord
Derby who was then in office expressly init
mated 10 the representatives just mentioned
that the previously existing suzeralnty was now
withdrawn; further that he sent message BY
cable to the same effect TO Her Majestys acting
High Commissioner in Cape Town. and that
Lord Rosnead then Governor OF the Cape Col
INV but present in London at the negotiations,
as also his interpreter the Rev. d. P. Faure,
and Mr. Evelyn Ashley, who were also then
present on behalf of the British Government
distinctly declare or have declared. that there
was absolutely no question as 10 the fact that
the suzerainty was completely and unreservedly
abandoned The representatives who had been
deputed to proceed to England 10 negotiate
reported on their return 10 the same effect
How absolutely and universally 1t was under
stood that the South African Republic, as the
country under this last instrument was now
again called had been released from the bond
formerly imposed upon II is curiously apparent
from passage in a book written shortly after
that time by the then very young princes the
aons Of the Prince OF Wales who had been traV'
Cling around the world I'm which, writing OF tns
London Convention, they mention that the suAe'
rainty Of the Queen had now been compie'eV
abandoned These historical details are hardv
OF Importance except In regard to the question
whether the suzerainty pretensions MADE later
by Mr. Chamberlain over the Transvaal were
made in good faith or not. AS to the Conven-
tion itself. all jurists. whether on the continent
OF Europe or in England. who are known as
authorities on the subject Of international ia"'
agree that the suzerainty was. and was intend
ed to be. absolutely abandoned; England now
ever. retaining the right, under one OF the
clauses Of the document, to object 10 treaues
which she might consider detrimental 10 neF
own interests.
And so the matter remained for some four
teen years when Mr.. Chamberlain, the Ehs'sh
Colonial Secretary. sprang upon the county
claim of suzerainty on behalf OF the crown VI
Great Britain. on the ground that the pream0s
OF the Convention OF Pretoria, in which men'
ton was made of this suzerainty, had not oe'a
expressly abolished in the later agreement Luz
astonishing absurdty OF the position mus 'aAsa
by him has been well shown by sever"
eminent jurists (more particularly one may ~
fer 10 a brochure entitled "Suzerainty ana Inv
South African Republic" By Dr. NJ. j. are"''
a noted English writer on nternauoha' 'a"'
that II Is unnecessary further TO owen upO"
this point. .,.
1t must not be thought that the claim 'nu'
made is one OF small significance TOT the TO-
! yaaL Its true significance became apPa'S'
when certain r9tions arose between 'na' Wv"
try and the British Government as 10 Tue
nra,o,,or NJ the Convention OF London Inc III
terpretation placed by Mr.. Chamberlain Wy.
that document was on several points so astouho.
| ing that the Transvaal protested agaihs' ~
| insisted upon the questions at issue oe."e
mitted to arbitration. In reply Mr' -,
| lain absolutely refused 10 agree 10 al!
| ton whatsoever on the ground ina, -
Britain. as being the suzerain Power cow
submit thereto. Even had such suAe -.
| existed. the position thus taken up ~.
| British Colonial Secretary was Simply .,
strous one In the question at lssu' ~.
whether the Transvaal has coh'ra's -,,,,c
| Convention OF London or not tha' ,,ost
again has obtained the opinions Oh a. the
eminent lawyers procurable In Europe w,,oh
| effect that by no possibility coulo us ...n 4
had been impugned be construed INTO
| contraventon.
MENACEp BY BRITISH TROOPS
! Meanwhile thousands Of British troop. Al
been concentrated in Natal, on the ,s.or,hea
border. In. as a British Minister lately d's.' -.
II an important strategical position. lh',o ,.,s,
country there are several thousands Oh -
subjects who. animated by the feeii"s, S,,a
aLar peOpla In the WORM o"'