The text of President Kruger's reply to Mr. Chamberlain's invitation,
which bears the date of April 21st, was published in London on April 29th. It is rather lengthy and entirely devoid of literary merit, but its meaning is perfectly clear. The Government of the Transvaal will not remove the grievances of the Outlanders, and objects to the British Government bringing them publicly forward, inasmuch as the Transvaal is independent in all internal affairs. The Government of the State desires to cancel the Convention of 1884, and to substitute for it "a treaty of amity and com
merce containing the most favoured nation clause," but rather than disease the alleged grievances it will postpone that desire, and content itself with asking an indemnity for the violation of its territory. As to the visit, President Kruger still wishes to come, bat only on condition that the bases of discussion are previously settled in the sense indicated above, and even then he would require the assent of the Volksraad. The meaning of the despatch is clearly that the Boers desire total independence, and will await an opportunity of getting it, and meanwhile, that they do not wish their President to go to England. They are afraid of his receiving too strong an impression from a high civilisation, and being carried away by its attractions. Well, Great Britain can wait as well as the Transvaal.
Previous page
