The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-23
NorthWard the
Beers Migrate
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe
JOHANNESBURG, March 22-The
resignation of Maj Van Estooff. gov
ernOr of German South Africa. is an
I"nounced here. His resignation is due
to a difference of opinion with regard
TO the treatemnt of BOer immigrants In
that colony. 1t will be remembered
that at the close of the Boer war one or
two leaders advocated emigration to
that colony.
1t was felt that It might be a con-
Venlent place for some of the irreCOn-
cileables to locate, but the German gov
eminent has been aVerse to granting
them special privileges. This has been
particularly noticeable in regard to
their connection with the control of the
new Dutch Reformed church cOngrega-
lions by the preSbytery at Cape Town
which it has been considered might
possibly become source Of internal
tiOnaI trouble
We understand here that the condi-
lions on which BOer immigration will
be permitted are that permission be
given to the Beers to found a branch
of the Dutch Reformed church in the
German protectorate, to conduct it's
services IN the Dutch language, and to
maintain relations with the synod of
the church of Cape Colony. The gov
eminent reserves the right to put an
END TO this connection if it leads to DO
Hucal complications. Dutch parents
are bound to send their children be-
tween the ages of ten and fourteen for
Two years to a government school.
During these two years the children
must i've in the boarding houses pro-
Vlded by the government for the pur-
pose. German Will be exclusively
spoken in the school and in the board
Ing house. Religious instruction win
also be given in German, but parents
VIII be allowed to withdraw their chill
dfen from it if they wish to do so. All
instruction will be given at the ex-
pense of the government. The Beers
are allowed to erect other schools Of
thelr own, but the two years attend
dnce at the government institutions is
obligatory. The government expresses
desire that all Dutch Afrkander''
settlers should become German sub
Jects, in which case their sons will he
bound to perform their military service
IN German Southwest Africa 1t is
pointed out that German subjects can
purchase land from the government.
that they have the preference in gov
! eminent contracts, and that if self
government is introduced they will be
entitled to vote
A leading authority here whom I
had the pleasure of interviewing said
in reference to the matter:
The agreements which were made
with leading Beers with regard to i'm
migration into the territory of the
protectorate do not invite criticism so
much on account of those clauses
! winch aim at the settlement Of &C.
cIeslastical relations because they con-
| cede to the Beers in other resDects.
/ especially in the matter Of schools
privileges which cannot be granted
even to imperial subjects. 1t may be
| assumed that resumption of the ne
gotatiOns with the Boer leaders con-
cerned will shortly lead to an issue
satisfactory to both parties"
The purpose of some Of these leaders
is TO divert some of the most antagO-
! nistic spirits to British rule to German
West Africa if possible. 1t is gener-
ally believed here that there is an UNI
| Outstanding between the German and
British governments IN regard to these
matters to conserve the development
of a peaceful solution of the British
South African question. At any rate,
the propositions made are not sup
posed TO be final.
While this is apparently one of the
minor features of the South African
question 1t is not the least and the
friendly arm of Germany to Britain
here may be one of lasting service.
Mr.. ChamberlainS trip has been in a
measure leading to this point. 1t has
been an exceedingly difficult thing to
judge of the success of this visit, but
II Is generally conceded that the Bir-
mingham man has done much to heal
up existing wounds. 1t is also felt
that he is determined to right all in
Justices as far as possible. AS evil
dence of the recent change of feeling
on the part of the Beers it may be
noted that the three sections into
which they are divided-"hands up
pers," national scouts and those who
fought to the end have joined together
in the presentation of addresses and
petitions. OF course this at one time
would have been an impossibility, but
that is only in line with the most re-
cent developments here, everything
seeming to tend toward harmonious
development.