The Emperor's telegram has, it is hardly necessary to say,
raised a tempest of feeling throughout Great Britain. It is felt that it assails our whole position in South Africa, and that if the idea it expresses is acted on, say, by the promotion of the German Consul in Pretoria into the Minister Plenipotentiary to the Transvaal, re- lations with Germany must at once be broken off. The Premier very wisely has not spoken, but Mr. Chamberlain has announced that the Government will maintain the Convention of 1884,—that is, the subordination of the Boers as regards all foreign relations. The Admiral at the Cape has started for Delagoa Bay, where a strong squadron will be collected, including, if necessary, the East India squadron, and a powerful flying squadron has also been put in commission. The military force in South Africa will also be increased by two regiments, and the Government of India doubtless warned that a demand may be made upon its large resources in men. Opinion calls for the devotion of the whole surplus to the increase of the Navy, and it is rumoured that the Reserves may be called out. Finally, it is conceivable that the unexpectedly sudden return of the Speaker from the Riviera may be due to a possible necessity for calling Parliament together.
