THE TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11129, 31 July 1899, Page 5

THE TRANSVAAL.

FIRM ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN. J SPEECH BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN. THE RIGHT OF SUZERAINTY. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. VIEWS OF LORD SALISBURY. THE MINIMUM DEMAND. A UITLANDER PETITION. MR. BALFOUR ON THE SITUATION. By Telegraph.-Press Association.-Copyright. London, July 29. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, speaking in the House of Commons, admitted that the Transvaal was a constant source of danger to the peace of South Africa, but denied that there was cause for armed intervention. He thought the Jameson raid justified the suspicion of such a step. The Government mutt use moral suasion, and enlist the aid of the enlightened Dutchman at the Cape. Mr. Chamberlain, in reply, said the Government had four titles to interfere. Apart from other questions, they had the right oi every Power to protect us oppressed subjects, and thev had also the right of suzerain. The Convention had been broken, both in the spirit and in the letter, while the promises on which the Convention was granted had been falsified. He had no desire to haggle over the details, but he was bound to see things through. He offered to submit the new franchise to legal experts in South Africa, to ascertain if it secured to the uitlanders adequate representation. He thankfully recognised that the colonies were willing to give active support, but should necessity arise for the acceptance of colonial tiroops there was difficulty in getting troops landed in time to be of real service. He declined to make pledges with regard to ulterior action. He considered that the Colonial Office had displayed excessive patience and moderation. No one desired to annex the Transvaal or to lessen its independence. He was still hopeful of a peaceful solution, because President Kruger seemed aware that the Government, and, indeed the whole country, were in earnest.

The speech was received with cheers.

Mr. Ellis Griffith, Liberal member for Anglesey, supported Mr. Chamberlain.

No division was taken on the question.

In the House of Lords, Viscount Selbourne, Parliamentary UnderSecretary for the Colonies, said that the minimum representation asked by Sir Alfred Milner, at the Bloemfontein Conference, 'was still the minimum of the Cabinet.

Lord Salisbury also stated that the Cabinet had adopted the minimum described by Viscount Selbourne. He further stated that President Kruger's systematic policy of the encouragement of racial feeling had reduced the English in the Transvaal to the condition of a conquere.l race. Pie concluded: "We have put our hands to the plough, and will not turn back."

Capetown, July 29.

Within ten days 48,000 signatures were received at Capetown to a petition claiming equal rights for the uitlanders.

London, July 28.

Speaking at the luncheon in connection with a gathering of the M;dland Conservative Associatio is, Mr. A. J. Balfour said he attributed the difficulties in the Transvaal to the refusal of the Boer Government to concede to the uitlanders equal privileges with the burghers, in accordance with the terms and pledges contained in the Convention of 1881. If the recourse of diplomacy was ineffectual in untying the knot, other means would be adopted. Mr. Balfoin' said it was impossible for freeborn Englishmen to be permanently treated as an inferior race. Since the principle of immediate representation had been conceded, he hoped, despite indications to the contrary, that the Transvaal Government would not be so ill-advised as to withdraw the privilege in detail. Most of the English newspapers consider Mr. Balfour's speech satisfactory. They declare that it is a plain but momentous warning to President Kruger. Pretoria, July 28. At a meeting of 7000 uitlanders at Johannesburg resolutions were passed condemning the franchise concessions as inadequate, and demanding workable reforms Imperially guaranteed. The new franchise law, as it recently passed the Volksraa'jl, has been officially proclaimed, and has come into , yy. The commandant of the New South Wales Forces, Major-General French, lias had before him a compilation which embraces a summary showing the numbers of men belonging'to'the defence force of the colony who have volunteered for service in the Transvaal should such service be acceptable to the War Office authorities. The return shows that more than 1800 men have intimated their willingness to serve as indicated, the number including about 350 men who are members of the mounted forces the Lancers, the Mounted Rifles, and the Australian Horse. The General states that, in the case of any such ofJ.T for service in the Transvaal as had been made being accepted, the detachment of Lancers, 100 strong, now in England, would doubtless be included. And as the field battery of Permanent Artillery had also volunteered, no doubt that, if any offer at all was accepted, it would be.