maintaining the preamble to the preceding instrument declared that
certain other Articles would be substituted for Articles contained
in the Convention of 1881. The Articles of the Convention of 1881
have been accepted by the Volksraad of the Transvaal State and
those of the Convention of 1884 by the Volksraad of the South
African Republic.

"According to these Conventions Her Majesty's position towards the
South African Republic is that of a suzerain, who has granted to
the people of this Republic self-government under certain
conditions; and it would be incompatible with this situation to
submit to arbitration the meaning of the conditions under which she
has granted self-government to the Republic."

Mr. Chamberlain concluded by saying that he could not admit the
intervention of any Foreign power between the English Government and
that of the South African Republic, and that, therefore, he could not
submit the violations of the Convention of 1884 to the consideration of
such a power.

On April 11th, 1898, the new State Secretary, Mr. Reitz, returned to the
question in a long despatch described by Dr. Kuyper as "crushing"
(_foudroyante_), and which proves, at least, that the Suzerainty
Question had been raised before 1898, since it endeavours to refute Mr.
Chamberlain's despatches of March 6th, and October 16th, 1897.

To this Mr. Chamberlain replies, December 15th, 1898:--

"The preamble to the Convention of 1881 remains the basis of the
relations between Her Majesty and the inhabitants of the South