The operative part of Mr. Chamberlain'a speech was, how- ever,
his announcement that the Government had proposed to President Kruger that a joint Commission should inquire into the last franchise proposals of the Transvaal in order to diseover how far they go in giving that substantial and imme- diate representaticin to the alien population whide alone can be considered as a basis of satisfactory settlement. "If," added Mr. Chamberlain, "this inquiry is accepted, when it is concluded the experts who will be engaged in it will make a report to the two Governments, and then we hope that it may be possible for us to come to an agreement." In any case, the Government would press for the necessary alterations in order to secure the essential object. Up to the present time no threats had been used. "We have issued no ultimatum, and we do not intend to be hurried." It is clear, therefore, that the crisis is postponed for the present. If President Kruger likes, he can postpone it altogether. If he had the boldness and the wisdom, even at this the eleventh hour, to accept Sir Alfred Milner's scheme fairly and honestly, all his difficulties would vanish. Even if the Imperial Government were really the Machiavellian persons he pretends to think them, he could not get the better of them more effectually. A frank and large concession would knock the weapon out of his enemy's hands.
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