The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1900-07-04
GERMAN FRIENDSHIP
Relations Existing Between That
Nation and the Transvaal.
The Present situation as Viewed in
the Light OF the Past : German
Interests Well Looked After
4 In south Africa.


raid were OF considerable anxiety to
England. BY most persons in Eng
land the German interest In the
Transyaal Is regarded as beginning
with the emperor's message to Presi-
dent Aruger at the time of the raid,
but 1t really existed, and In very sub
stantial form, some time previous to
that. TO understand the true inward
ness of these relations it is necessary
to 60 back to 1895. In November of
that year Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
then, as now, secretary of state for
the colonies, was the principal guest
at banquet given by the agent gen.
eral In London for Natal to celebrate
the completion of the railway exten-.
sion from Natal to Johannesburg
Among Che other guests was the late
Mr. Beeiaerts Won Blolxland, diplomat,
ic representative in Europe Of the
South African Republic. He was pres
ent and spoke in his official capacity,
no one taking exception or raising OBJ
jections, which proved the recognized
right OF the republic to be represented
and have foreign policy, subject only
under the London convention To the
six months condition of approval or
veto by the British crown. On Ai
Won Blokland's death he was sue .sV K
ed by DR.. Leyds with identical powers
The key to the political ralations be
tween Berlin and Pretosia is 90 be
found in the antilGerman campaign
in certain part Of the South African
press, inaugurat In 1890 when Mr..
Rhodes first Eane premier Of Cape
Colony Froa that Gay to the present \
it has nlYM ceased In 1894, before
the raiakkhe Kimberley Advertiser
Irin' y letter in which the German
pr Fn was exposed at considerable
"a 10Th. IL attracted much attention
the Time and one part Of it seems
Z Morh reproducing 1t says:
Though the interests of Great
N Britain in South Africa come first, the
interests of Germany undoubtedly
come second. Germany has already
obtained very substantial footing on
the west coast. German merchants
hold a very important place in the
commercial community in Cape Town,
in Port Elizabeth and in Durham. A
German line of steamers has for some
time been trading between Europe
and South Africa and there can be no
doubt whatever that this line of
steamers was established very largely
with a view to the trade which might
be expected to gravitate toward
Delagoa bay on the opening of the
railway between that port and Johan-
nesburg. Hence Germany has most
real and legitimate interests in South
Africa in general, and in the relations
between the Transvaal and Delagoa
bay in particular.
With regard to German influence
the same letter points out that while
1csmany was represented at Pretoria
~ most tactful and able diplomat
ist, Herr von Herff. now German con-
( sui Ageperal at Milan in Italy where
he yyas met by the Transvaal dele !
gaus recently sent over to Europe
, and this country. British interests
Were intrusted to Sir J. de Wet, an
agent entirely devoid of tact and pio-
lently prejudiced against the govern :
ment to which he was accredited. He =
was generally regarded as the agent
Of the Rhodes party and believed to
Oe bent on bringing about some act of
British Intervention in Delagoa bay II
hostile TO the Transvaal and preiu-
dicial to German interests. In 1891
ii was conclusively shown that the
Chartered company had sought to stir
up native rebellion against the Por- s.
tuguese authorities with the object of n
bringing about British Intervention D
and the seizure of the Delagoa lSny b
territory and railway with a view to
I controlling the trade of the Transvaal u
IN the interest Of Rhodesia and the fc
Cape Na|pny. The Transvaal govern al
mentk ~ in serious dilemma. It
couldnof <ppeal with any advantage n
Il the B'tst government. for II was L
gn,ded by th1i then high commission n,
sr Sir HeiiryA Loeb. and be in turn a
~ air. RhodesA II was at this juno
+rre that the Norman government ri
sent a cruiser ia Delagoa bay and
made representations in London that b,
led 10 the formulating Of an Anglo II
German agreement for the malnten- SC
snce Of the status 90 at the Portu- b.
enese seaport
since then the relations between M
GERMANY and the Trans',al have been bs
- ne best. In January 1895, presi- fr
Art Kruger expressed a gratitude cl.