Transvaal (South Africa) -- History; Transvaal (South Africa) -- Politics and government
But his work is at an end now. He may have succeeded cleverly in
deceiving Krueger and Steyn what the European Powers really meant to do,
or in giving those same Powers garbled accounts of the state of affairs
in the Transvaal, and the true bearings of the Bloemfontein negotiation,
yet the fact remains that it is mainly through him that the South
African Republics have lost their independence. He could not like Mr.
Krueger, excuse himself upon being led astray by blind and ignorant
patriotism. He knew well enough how far the very help he depicted as
forthcoming could be depended upon, he knew that England was bound to
win in the long run, but there was only one thing which he cared for; to
make people in Europe believe that he had an important part to play in
the political arena. The war came as a welcome diversion to an endurable
position. And now that his country's interests have been entirely
sacrificed to his own, he may look upon his work with satisfaction.
APPENDIX E.
THE TRANSVAAL AND THE PEACE CONFERENCE HELD IN PARIS FROM SEPTEMBER
30TH TO OCTOBER 5TH, 1900.
SITTING OF OCTOBER 1ST.
In the English section of the Peace Conference the most prominent
members of which were Dr. Clarke, Mr. Moscheles and Mr. Alexander, the
following resolutions had been unanimously adopted to be proposed at the
Peace Conference:
"That according to the report sent by the Berne International
Bureau it has come to the knowledge of the International Peace
Congress, that:
(_a_) "The British Government steadily opposed various attempts
made with the object to submit the South African difficulties to
arbitration.
(_b_) "Arbitration was eagerly accepted by the South African
Republics, who had repeatedly asked for it, therefore, the
International Peace Congress feels compelled to arrive at the
following conclusions:
1st. "Of the two opponents the one who declined arbitration,
_i.e._, the British Government is responsible for the war in South
Africa.
2nd. "As long as arbitration can possibly be resorted to the appeal
to arms is tantamount to being guilty of a crime against
civilisation and humanity; therefore,
3rd. "The application of brutal force by Great Britain so as to end
their quarrel with the South African Republics deserves an
everlasting blame for what must be considered as an outrage
against human conscience, and a betrayal of the cause of progress
and humanity."
Then a lengthy discussion arose, in the course of which M. Yves Guyot
quoted facts in contradiction to the assertions which the proposed
resolution contained.
That resolution was passed in principle by the Congress Commission of
Actuality, with the proviso that some words should be left out as being
too offensive.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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