The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-21
south African Misunderstanding

South African Observation-Disclosures.
On two recent occasions Mr.. CHAMBER
LAIN has publicly said that the war in
South Africa between the British and the
Beers was the outcome Of mutual rlisun-
derstandings. There is no doubt that
the people Of the United Kingdom APP
proved Of the war because they had been
led TO believe that in the Transvaal the
Ui0Anders, or white resident aliens, were
unjustly treated, and that the Kaffirs
we're harshly dealt with. and that both
elements of the population would be much
better of under British rule. What are
the facts?
We mean to lay no particular emphasis
upon the circumstance that the Uitlander
owners of the gold mines on the Rand are
saddled with heavy additional burden,
being obliged TO contribute about$i75,
0O0, 600 to the cost Of the war. That might
be deemed a moderate price to pay for the
transformation of "helots into free
men. Unfortunately for the helots, as
the Uitlanders of johannesburg used to
be called by Mr.. RHODES, Lord MILNER
and Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN, no such trans
formation has taken place. Touching
this point, it Ia we'll to recall what con-
oessions regarding the franchise the
Transvaal Government offered tn make.
Those who are conversspt with the nego-
tiations between Pretoria and the British
Colonial Office which went on during the
first eight months Of the memorable
year 1899 are aware that the Roer Gov
ernment successfully reduced the period
required TO qualify resident aliens for the
suffrage from fourteen years tn nine;
from nine to seven prospective; again,
from seven prospective to seven retire
spective, and, finally, tn five years retro
spective. II Mr.. CHAMBERLAIN and Lord
MILNER had accepted the offer made by
President kRtGER on Aug. 10, 1899, every
respectable white alien who Ind resided
ia the Transvaal for five wears would
have had the full voting rights nf Trans
date. All the Beers asked Of Mr.. CHAM
RERLAIN in return for this concession was
that he should insist no longer on claim
Of suzcrainty for which. il is now gen.
orally admitted, there was not an atom
Of foundation.
Three years and eight months having
elapsed. let us see what is the present
position Of resident aliens in the Trans
vaal. In December, 1902, an ordinance
was passed by the Colonial Govern
ment comforting upon aliens after five
years resideno-precisely the period
offered by President kRcGER--all the
rights and obligations Of natural
horn British subject in the Transvaal
What do these rights amount TO under
the existing Crown Colony regimen
They do not include the right TO vote for
anybody or anything whereas, under
the Boer law, the naturalized alien could
have voted for all elective executive
of1cers. for both houses of the Boer
Legislature, and, IL he had sufficient
property, at municipal elections also
VIII II be said that all these rights will
come TO the resident aliens rs soon as
representative institutions arc granted
to the Transvaal9 There viii still be a
great difference between tho situation
that they will then occupy and that
which would have been theirs had Presi-
dent kRcoEI's offer been accepted. The
Boer lsw would have given the resident
alien an absolute right to be naturalized
after FIVE ycars Of residence, and to
naturalization would have been attached
tho suhraqe. Under the ordinance is
rusd ey LORI MrLSER, on the other hand,
naturalization is far from being en- alb