But These
Conventions Are Not Like The Laws Of The Medes And The Persians.
They Are Mortal, They Can Be Destroyed.
.
.And once destroyed they
can never be reconstructed in the same shape.' The long-enduring
patience of Great Britain was beginning to show signs of giving
way.
In the meantime a fresh dispatch had arrived from the Transvaal
which offered as an alternative proposal to the joint commission
that the Boer Government should grant the franchise proposals of
Sir Alfred Milner on condition that Great Britain withdrew or
dropped her claim to a suzerainty, agreed to arbitration, and
promised never again to interfere in the internal affairs of the
republic. To this Great Britain answered that she would agree to
arbitration, that she hoped never again to have occasion to
interfere for the protection of her own subjects, but that with the
grant of the franchise all occasion for such interference would
pass away, and, finally, that she would never consent to abandon
her position as suzerain power. Mr. Chamberlain's dispatch ended by
reminding the Government of the Transvaal that there were other
matters of dispute open between the two Governments apart from the
franchise, and that it would be as well to have them settled at the
same time. By these he meant such questions as the position of the
native races and the treatment of Anglo-Indians.
On September 2nd the answer of the Transvaal Government was
returned. It was short and uncompromising. They withdrew their
offer of the franchise.
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