From 1881 onwards, continued Mr. Chamberlain, the Boers had been
patiently and persistently endeavouring to oust the Queen from her suzerainty, until at last they threw off the mask and declared themselves a sovereign independent State, After a severe reference to the mission and methods of Dr. Leyds, and an examination of the points at isms between the Government and Opposition, Mr. Chamberlain justified the publication of Sir Alfred Milner's despatch, and the delay in sending their now undelivered ultimatum to President Kruger. So far from the Government having been provocative or desirous of war, he was more afraid of the charge of having been patient to the point of weakness. Mr. Chamberlain warmly eulogised the loyalty of Natal, and con- cluded by asserting that the Government had been sincerely anxious for peace, but that there were things more important than peace, and for its sake they could not betray their country or allow our paramountcy to be impaired. The debate was continued by Sir Edward Clarke, who condemned the renewal of the claim to suzerainty as a breach of faith ; by Mr. Haldane, who opposed the amendment; and by Mr. Scott, Dr. Clark, Mr. Morley, and Mr. Courtney, who supported it. The closure having been moved by Mr. Balfour, the amend- ment was negatived by 362 votes against 135, Sir Henry Fowler, Sir Edward Grey, and Mr. Haldane, with about twenty other Liberals, voting with the Ministerialists. The minority was composed of Liberals and Nationalists, and two Unionists, Mr. Maclean and Mr. Courtney.
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