In point of fact, it is the British Government that is responsible for
the present war, through having inspired President Krüger with the
conviction, that he had only to continue in 1899 the policy which had
succeeded so well in 1880.




CHAPTER IV.

ARTICLES OF THE CONVENTION OF 1884.[7]


1.--_Krüger's Point of View._

Dr. Kuyper has a simple method of solving difficulties. Speaking of
Article 4 of the Convention of 1884, which gives England the right of
veto on all treaties contemplated between the South African Republic and
foreign powers, he says:--

"This is not Mr. Krüger's point of view. He, like us, has always
stigmatised the occupation of 1877 as a violation of the Sand River
Treaty."

Mr. Krüger did not stigmatise it thus when he accepted office from the
English Government. But, in any case, he was party to the negotiations
which resulted in the Conventions of 1881 and 1884. Dr. Kuyper tells us
that neither he nor Mr. Krüger recognise them, considering them to have
been vitiated by the Annexation of 1877. Be it so; but in that view
discussion is useless. Mr. Krüger held them as null and void. He has