It stated that the Transvaal Government must send her Majesty a copy of
any treaty it desired to make, and that if England notified the Boers
within six months that the proposed treaty interfered with her rights in
South Africa, it must be abandoned. Nothing was said in this agreement
which prevented the Transvaal from having friendly dealings with
foreign powers.

Mr. Chamberlain seems to have become confused about the contents of the
London convention of 1884, and to have got it mixed with the treaty of
1881. The brave old President of the Transvaal has, however, determined
to refresh his memory.

In his speech before the Volksraad he stated grimly that the Boers would
oppose to the last any attempt on the part of England to enforce her
fancied rights, and having declared himself emphatically for war, he
concluded with one of his quaint, pious remarks. He said the Boers
wished to preserve peaceful and friendly relations with the whole world,
because wherever love dwelt the blessing of God was sure to follow.

President Krüger's defiance was regarded by the British Government as
mere speech-making. The Government refused to believe that the old man
wished his words to be taken seriously, and so passed the whole affair
over as unworthy of notice.

Mr. Chamberlain has been instructed to enforce Great Britain's sovereign
rights in the Transvaal, and notwithstanding the fact that several of
the London newspapers are calling attention to the treaty of 1884, he is
determined to insist on these rights.

It was rumored some time ago that as soon as the Greek troubles were out