General Botha made an important speech at Pretoria on Tuesday.
While he was prepared to abide by the will of the majority, investigations clearly proved that the majority did not wish for a Coalition Ministry. He appreciated Dr. Jameson's appeal for continuance in the spirit of the Con- vention, thought the time had come for a "clean sheet," and hoped the old party organisations, especially his own, would be dissolved and amalgamate into a great party, with broad and wide principles, named the South African National Party. The chief problem before the Government was that of welding the different races into one people, and promoting the spirit of union. The protection of the British flag was of the greatest importance, and the tics with the Mother-country must be strengthened. General Botha, who announced that a Conference of parties who supported this programme would be held, denied the rumour that he would not reside at Groote Schuur—Mr. Rhodes's bequest to the Union Premiers—and deprecated the nonsense talked about his opposing Sir Percy FitzPatrick fir Pretoria. Englishmen as well as Dutch bad invited him to stand for a constituency where he had resided since the peace, and he hoped there would be a friendly contest.
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