WHAT HAS KRUGER DONE WITH PUBLIC MONEY.

Thames Star, Volume XXXX, Issue 10502, 25 November 1902, Page 2

WHAT HAS KRUGER DONE WITH PUBLIC MONEY.

Mr Chamberlain must have startled t'hie equanimity of the Boer Generals when he asked their co-operation an finding, who had tha gold sent from the Transvaal and demanding a statement of how it was spent. He very just'y claimed that the money was the property of the people of the Transvaal and should be handed over to the British. Government for the use of the people. This is a new departure, and as Mr Chamberlain is not a man to make demands he does not believe he is- justified in making, it is just probable that Eruger and Leyds may find themselves' in rather a dangerous position, probably touching their personal safety. The English Government are expending £200.000 >per month in. the Burgher camps, where men and women are being cared for till they couldi get on. the land, or their old homes. Why -should Kruger and Leyds hold possession of the people's money. The question is an important one and raises, a point of international law. Had gold been' found in. the Treasuiy -in Johannesburg om the British taking possession! it wouildi unquesjfci'ojnabjly have been the property of the conquerors, and the same would a.ppl'y to gold in any other, town or city in. the Orange State or the Transvaal, being pußlio money. The 'fact of the gold being proved to be public property, its location was "a matter of indifference. Thus the* public property taken by Kruger and Leyds to. Europe is just as much the property of the new possessors of the Transvaal as if it had been im Pretoria. The cable states that Botha sent a conciliatory reply to Mr Chamberlain, and denied any knowledge of the funds sent to Europe, although a later cable from Belgium says he consented to Kruger and Leyds retaining a million, of money for political purposes. Doubtless by; th,©'time Mr Chamberlain! has been through. South Africa, both General Bofhia and others, including Kruger and Leyds, will find they ean'not deal' with ■ Transvaal gold without giving an account of its expenditure.