'Her Majesty's Government Are Increasingly Impressed With The
Danger Of Further Delay In Relieving The Strain Which Has Already
Caused So Much Injury To The Interests Of South Africa, And They
Earnestly Press For An Immediate And Definite Reply To The Present
Proposal.
If it is acceded to they will be ready to make immediate
arrangements.
. .To settle all details of the proposed tribunal of
arbitration. . .If, however, as they most anxiously hope will not
be the case, the reply of the South African Republic should be
negative or inconclusive, I am to state that her Majesty's
Government must reserve to themselves the right to reconsider the
situation de novo, and to formulate their own proposals for a final
settlement.'
Such was the message, and Great Britain waited with strained
attention for the answer. But again there was a delay, while the
rain came and the grass grew, and the veld was as a mounted
rifleman would have it. The burghers were in no humour for
concessions. They knew their own power, and they concluded with
justice that they were for the time far the strongest military
power in South Africa. 'We have beaten England before, but it is
nothing to the licking we shall give her now,' cried a prominent
citizen, and he spoke for his country as he said it. So the empire
waited and debated, but the sounds of the bugle were already
breaking through the wrangles of the politicians, and calling the
nation to be tested once more by that hammer of war and adversity
by which Providence still fashions us to some nobler and higher
end.
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