Transvaal (South Africa) -- History; Transvaal (South Africa) -- Politics and government
"We have already spoken of the concluding sentences in the
Memorandum. Messrs. A. Fischer, C.H. Wessels, A.D.W. Wolmarans
"appeal to the _Conference de l'Union Interparlementaire_ to take
in hand their cause." The Executive Committee has, as has already
been said, ruled the question out of order. This decision is not to
be regretted considering the tendencies of the delegates'
Memorandum; it does not help their cause any more than does Dr.
Kuyper's article."
M. Pauliat complained bitterly of the decision. A progressive member of
the Belgian deputation, Mr. Lorand, tried to revive the question on the
2nd of August by means of the following resolution:
"The tenth Conference of the Interparliamentary Union for
International Arbitration now meeting in Paris being cognisant of
acknowledging the resolutions of the Conference at the Hague, and
being desirous to express its gratitude to all who have contributed
towards its results; trusts, that in future the Powers will avail
themselves of the means put at their disposal for the amicable
settlement of international disputes and regret that "they have not
done so" in the actual conflict between England and the South
African Republics."
Upon this, M. Beernaert, with all authority conferred upon him by his
position as the delegate of the Belgian Government at the Hague
Conference, observed that the Transvaal was not in a position to avail
itself of the resolution arrived at by the Conference--because that
Conference was no longer in existence, and because the Boers had not
been a party to it. On his motion the words "could not do so" were
inserted instead of the words "had not done so."
Now why were the Boers not represented at the Hague Conference?
The Queen of Holland, in whose name the invitations were issued, had
undoubtedly been appealed to by them, to admit the Transvaal to the
Congress in conformity with Dr. Reitz's contention that "the Transvaal
had inherent rights to be an international state,"--but their request
had been refused, as would have been a similar demand coming from
Finland or the Bey of Tunis.
The case was on all fours with that of the Vatican. When the Italian
Government declared that they would not sit in the Conference if an
invitation were sent to the Holy See, the Vatican was omitted.
Such is the simple fact; and it is just this fact which M. Lorand and M.
Beernaert brought into relief by the resolution of 2nd August. I am
quite sure that that was not their intention; the fact remains,
notwithstanding.
APPENDIX D.
SOUTH AFRICAN CRITICS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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