desired effect. President Kruger withdrew his proclamation. Recently, with commendable promptness, Her Majesty's Government has decided to strengthen our garrisons in South Africa, and the firm attitude of Mr. Chamberlain has already brought about, within the past few days, one salutary result at any rate. Finding that we are in earnest and do not intend to shirk our national responsibilities, the Volksraad at Pretoria has been induced to repeal one of the most obnoxious laws recently passed, the Act affecting immigrants, and this too by a vote of twenty against three. It is fair to assume, therefore, that when further pressure is brought to bear, other measures which have been sanctioned, flagrantly violating Articles of the Convention, will also be repealed. But vigilance must not be relaxed. Above all, outside arbitration as to what constitutes an infraction of an Article cannot be entertained. The issues involved in the faithful observance of the Articles substituted in 1884 are so simple and so obvious that no arbitration on any point is necessary. Those Articles were for the benefit of all, and cannot be overridden or set aside by a vindictive minority for their own ends. But even if the occasion for arbitration on any question should arise to which these articles relate, Her Majesty as Suzerain can be the only arbitrator, inasmuch as all disputes must be between one section of the inhabitants and another; and the section feeling itself aggrieved can rightfully call on the Suzerain to decide their differences and enforce Her guarantee against the offender. Let Her Majesty's Government adopt the same firmness in every other direction where Articles of the Convention have been similarly ruthlessly broken. If this be done, we shall be treated to a good many pious ejaculations and canting allusions to the Old Testament no doubt, but the Boer Hollander coterie will adopt a different tone very quickly. They are perfectly conversant with the fact that their recent high-handed outrages of decency have estranged from them the sympathy of the British and French public now so largely interested in the Transvaal, and they have arrived at the conclusion that although the German Emperor may send frothy telegrams, he dare not move a man to aid them against the Suzerain authority in South Africa. President Kruger has had ample opportunities of learning what is the power of England should her strength be put forth, and if he once sees we are in earnest, he will give way. It behoves Her Majesty's advisers, however, to remember that there is at this hour as much difference between his promises and his performances as there was at the time he was treating either with Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet, British officials and the Royal Commissioners, or when he was Commandant-General in Zoutpansberg. What reason then can be alleged for further delay? Is it not a hard petrified fact that the Articles of the Conventions have been openly defied? Does not the whole world know that the administration of justice has been reduced to a mere mockery and farce, the personal liberty and rights of some 60,000 aliens imperilled, and millions of capital invested in the Transvaal endangered by a few dishonest and illiterate peasants, assisted by a batch of still more unscrupulous foreign Dutch ? Let Her Majesty's Government continue to strengthen our military forces at all strategic points, and show the Boers that at last Great Britain is serious, and if need be that Her Majesty's guarantee will be enforced by Her Majesty's troops. Then I feel sure the game or bluff will cease, wiser councils will prevail, war will be averted and reforms granted satisfactory to all parties. But these steps must be taken promptly. Remember that the terrible mistakes made over a series of years are not to be corrected in a day, and that each of these ignorant farmers on the Veldt has the idea firmly impressed in his mind that on more than one occasion the Boers have vanquished the entire British power. To those not interested, the position must appear farcical, but any day the farce may develop into tragedy, and only a prompt resolute stand taken by the Suzerain can avert bloodshed. APPENDIX No. 122. Sir T. SHEPSTONE, K.C.M.G., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. (Received May 26, 1877.) MY LORD, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, PRETORIA, TRANSVAAL, On Thursday last, the 12th instant, I found myself in a position to issue the proclamations necessary for annexing the South African Republic, commonly known as the Transvaal, to Her Majesty's dominions, and for assuming the administra. tion thereof in virtue of the powers conferred upon me by Her Majesty's Commission, dated Balmoral, the 5th day of October, 1876. I enclose printed copies of these two proclamations, and my address to the people, for your Lordship's information, and, I hope, approval. These documents describe the considerations which chiefly induced me to take this step. The facts showing the perilous and utterly deplorable condi tion of the Government and country could, with perfect truth, have been stated in much stronger language; indeed, they had been more strongly stated by Mr. Burgers himself in speeches addressed to the Volksraad by him as President, extracts from which I have used in my address to the people. 2. Every step I have taken towards the accomplishment of my object was taken with the knowledge of the President. I thought it my duty to be perfectly open and frank with him |