britannien. Nr. 12057. heard the second paragraph of His Honour's opening speech and the official Grofs- documents and correspondence relating thereto which have been handed in, 28.Sept.1899. having regard to the strained state of affairs in South Africa which have arisen in consequence of the differences between the Governments of South African Republic and Her Britannic Majesty, which constitute a threatening danger for bringing about hostilities the calamitous effect of which would be incalculable for all white inhabitants of South Africa, being bound to the South African Republic by the closest bonds of blood and alliance and standing in most friendly relations towards Her Majesty's Government fearing that should a war break out a hatred would be generated between the European races in South Africa which still in the far future will impede and restrain the peaceful development of all States and Colonies of South Africa, being sensible that serious obligations rest on the Volksraad to do all that is possible to prevent the shedding of blood, considering that in the course of negotiations with the British Government which have extended over several months every endeavour has been made by the Government of the South African Republic at a peaceful settlement of the differences which have been brought forward by Uitlanders in the South African Republic and which have been adopted as its own cause by the Government of Her Majesty which endeavours, unfortunately, have only had the result that British troops have been concentrated on the border of the South African Republic and are still continually being reinforced. || "Resolves to instruct the Government still further to do everything in its power to preserve and establish peace and to contribute by peaceful methods towards the solution of the existing differences, always provided that [it] can be brought about without injury to the honour and independence of this State or of the South African Republic, and wishes unmistakably to declare its opinion that there exists no cause for war and that if a war is now begun or occasioned by Her Majesty's Government against South African Republic, this would morally be a war against the whole of white population of South Africa and would in its results be calamitous and criminal and further, that Orange Free State will honestly and faithfully observe its obligations towards South African Republic arising out of the political alliance between the two Republics whatever may happen." Nr. 12058. Nr. 12058. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Derselbe an Denselben. Der Präsident des Oranje-Freistaats bietet seine Vermittlung an. 6.55 a.m., September 28, 1899. Telegram. || 27th September. No. 4. In continuation of my telegram of Grofs- to-day, No. 3. Orange Free State President has telegraphed to me at enor28.Sept.1899. mous length. After recapitulating history of negotiations from their point of britannien. view he continues: Grofs Begins: This government are still prepared and tender their services to Nr. 12058. further the interests of peace and to continue in their endeavours to procure britannien. a satisfactory solution of existing difficulties on fair and reasonable lines. 28.Sept.1899. They feel themselves however hampered now as in the past (a) by a want of knowledge as to the definite object and extent of the desires of demands of the British Government compliance with which that Government consider themselves entitled to insist on and as to the grounds on which such insistence is based. (b) By the fact, notwithstanding the repeated assurances of the British Government that it does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of the government of the South African Republic nor to disturb its independence, it has pursued a policy which seems to justify a contrary conclusion; to give but one instance I may mention the enormous and ever-increasing military preparations on the part of the British Government indicating a policy of force and coercion. || This Government cannot conceive it possible that the points of difference that may exist on this subject justify those extensive and ever-increasing military preparations being carried out on this border, not only on the South African Republic but also of the Orange Free State, and they are therefore reluctantly compelled to conclude that they must be intended to secure other objects at present unknown to the Government of this State and the knowledge whereof if they prove to be fair and reasonable might induce this Government to make necessary representations to secure their attainment and enable them to continue their efforts to secure a speedy, peaceful and satisfactory settlement of the difficulties and differences existing between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the South African Republic. We are firmly convinced that the Government of South African Republic have been sincerely desirous to maintain in its integrity the Convention of London 1884 both as regards its letter and its spirit, and that they do not contemplate or assert a claim to any absolute political status without the qualification arising out of Article IV. of that Convention. I feel assured that there is no difference between their contention on that point and the communication made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government by Her Majesty's High Commissioner to the Government both of the South African Republic and of this State on the 27th February, 1884, as to the import of that Convention: that communication was as follows, "Same complete internal independence in Transvaal as in Orange Free State; conduct and control intercourse with foreign Governments conceded; Queen's final approval treaties reserved." || In the expectation that Her Majesty's Government will share my views that no effort should be spared to effect a peaceable settlement, I trust that Her Majesty's Government may see their way clear, pending arrival of the further despatch intimated as about to be sent to Government of South African Republic and pending further negotiations, to stop any further movements or increase of troops on or near the borders of the South African Republic and of this State, and further to give an assurance to that effect to Staatsarchiv LXIII. 22 britannien. Nr. 12058. allay the great excitement and irritation naturally aroused and increased Grofs- thereby, and if Her Majesty's Government should be pleased to accede to this 28.Sept.1899. request this Government would be glad to be favoured with the views of Her Majesty's Government on the points raised herein and more particularly as to the precise nature and scope of the concessions or measures the adoption whereof Her Majesty's Government consider themselves entitled to claim, or which they suggest as being necessary or sufficient to insure a satisfactory and permanent solution of existing differences between them and the South African Republic whilst at the same time providing a means for settlement [of] any other that may arise in the future. M. T. Steijn, State President. Nr. 12059. britannien. Ends. Nr. 12059. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Kolonialminister an den Gouverneur der Kapkolonie. Antwort auf Nr. 12058.*) 10.30 p.m., September 29, 1899. Telegram. 29th September. No. 2. Referring to your telegram of 27th SepGrofs- tember, Her Majesty's Government request that you will inform President of 29.Sept.1899. Orange Free State in reply to his message that their views have been definitely made known to the Government of the South African Republic from time to time and especially in my telegram of 8the September, No. 5. Unfortunately the Government of the South African Republic has finally declined to entertain the suggestions contained in that telegram, and accordingly Her Majesty's Government, in accordance with the announcement made in the last paragraph, have been compelled to formulate their own proposals for a final settlement, which will shortly be communicated to the Government of the South African Republic. You will at the same time inform President of Orange Free State that what he describes as the enormous and ever-increasing military preparations of Great Britain have been forced upon Her Majesty's Government by the policy of the South African Republic, which has transformed the Transvaal into a permanent armed camp, threatening the peace of the whole of South Africa and the position of Great Britain as the Paramount. State. Nr. 12060. Nr. 12060. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur der Kapkolonie an den Kolonialminister. Korrespondenz mit dem Oranje - Freistaat über die Ansammlung britischer Truppen. 8.5 p.m., Oktober 2, 1899. Telegram. || 2nd October. Nr. 2. Following telegram received from PreGrofs- sident Orange Free State: | Begins: 2nd October. I have the honour to 2. Okt. 1899. inform Your Excellency that I have deemed it advisable, in order to allay britannien. Diese Antwort wurde auf Vorschlag Milners an den Präsidenten Steijn nicht abgeschickt. Red. Grofs the intense excitement and unrest amongst our burghers arising from the Nr. 12060. totally undefended state of our border in the presence of a continued increase britannien. and movement of troops on two sides of this State, to call up our burghers 2. Okt. 1899. to satisfy them that due precaution has been taken in regard to guarding our borders, and to insure their not acting independently of proper control. I am still strongly and sincerely desirous of seeing, and, if possible, aiding in a friendly settlement of the differences between Her Majesty's Government and South African Republic being arrived at. I am still looking forward soon to be favoured with the views of Her Majesty's Government on the points touched upon in my telegraphic despatch to Your Excellency of the 27th instant [? Sept.], receipt thereof was acknowledged by Your Excellency on the following day. Ends. I have replied: - Begins: I have the honour to acknowledge Your Honour's telegram of to-day, the terms of which I am communicating to Her Majesty's Government. With regard to the movements of troops to which you refer, I can only repeat the assurances given in my telegrams of the 19th and 25th September. I regret that Your Honour should have felt obliged to call up a large body of burghers and to place them immediately on our borders, whereas no Imperial troops have been so placed on the borders of the Orange Free State, except the small detachment in the defence of Kimberley, but as Your Honour has seen fit to take this course I am glad to have Your Honour's assurance that your forces will be held in proper control. As Your Honours is aware, the Government of the South African Republic has mobilized and placed on the borders of Natal a very considerable army, and made dispositions which, unwilling as I am to believe such action possible, seems to indicate an invasion of the Queen's dominions. In view of the repeated declarations of Your Honour, I feel confident that an invasion of Her Majesty's territories by South African Republic would not have countenance and support of Your Honour's Government, all the more So as Your Honour continues to express the hope of a peaceful settlement, of which I likewise do not despair. || I hope to be able very shortly to communicate to you the reply of Her Majesty's Government to your telegram of 27th September. Ends. Nr. 12061. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Telegram. Derselbe an Denselben. Der Präsident der Südafrikanischen Republik hält 9.30 p.m., Oktober 2, 1899. 2nd October. Nr. 3. Following telegram received from Nr. 12061. British Agent: || "Volksraad of South African Republic adjourned this morning, sine die. President, in an excited speech, declared that war - Grofsbritannien. was 2. Okt. 1899. Nr. 12061. inevitable. England had shown that she wished to fight, and his people Grofs- would now show that they would fight under the eyes of the Lord. Burger 2. Okt. 1899. and Wolmarans spoke similar strain," britannien. Nr. 12062. britannien. Nr. 12062. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur der Kapkolonie an den Kolonialminister. Der Präsident des Oranje-Freistaats verlangt eine Antwort auf Nr. 12058. Entwurf einer Antwort. 7.5 a.m., Oktober 4, 1899. Telegram. || (Extract.) || 4th October. No. 1. President Orange Free State Grofs- has sent me another long telegram, which is mostly an attack upon us for 4. Okt. 1899. pursuing what he regards as a policy of menace towards South African Republic, and seems to indicate an intention of picking a quarrel with us. His answer concludes as follows:- "I feel deeply impressed with the danger of delay and with the urgent need of immediate action being taken, if any further attempts are to be made to secure a peaceful solution. I tender once again my best services towards the attainment of that object, but they will, I fear, be useless and unavailing if not preceded or accompanied by the assurances for which I asked on the 27th ultimo." || He also makes a grievance of not having received an answer to his telegram of the 27th September. I kept back, as you are aware, your telegram of the 29th September No. 2. We ought, however, in my opinion, to answer him now, and I suggest the following: Begins.-Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly stated their views on the questions at issue between them and the Government of the South African Republic, and especially in the telegram of 8th September, No. 5. They did not think their position open to misunderstanding but if President of Orange Free Stete desires elucidation of any special point they are prepared to give it. As regards their military preparations they have been necessitated by policy of Government of South African Republic converting that country into a permanent armed camp. In view of rejection of their last proposals by Government of South African Republic Her Majesty's Government are reconsidering the situation having regard to the grave (? fact) that both Republics have now placed themselves on a war footing. While intending shortly to put forward new proposals of their own Her Majesty's Government is prepared to listen even at the eleventh hour to definite suggestions from President of Orange Free State for the termination of crisis which are not inconsistent with attainment of objects steadily avowed and pursued by them. Ends. *) I do not think there is much chance of a compromise although there is apparently still some hope of it in Afrikander circles here. *) Chamberlain billigt die Antwort am 4. Oktober. Red. |