-SECRETARY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC TO THE
BRITISH AGENT AT PRETORIA

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
PRETORIA, _9th October, 1899_.

SIR,--

The Government of the South African Republic feel themselves
compelled to again refer the Government of Her Majesty, the Queen
of Great Britain, to the London Convention of 1884, concluded
between this Republic and the United Kingdom, which in Article XIV.
guarantees certain specified rights to the white inhabitants of
this Republic, to wit:--

"All those who, although not born in this Country, yet abide by the
laws of the South African Republic, (_a_) shall have full freedom
to come with their families into, to travel in, or to reside in any
part of the South African Republic; (_b_) shall be entitled to hold
in possession their houses, factories or warehouses, shops, and
allotments, either on hire or as their own property; (_c_) may
transact their business, either in person or through agents, to
their own satisfaction; (_d_) shall not be subjected to any other
general or local taxation--with regard to their families or
properties, or their commerce or trade--than those which shall be
laid on the burghers of the said Republics."

Our Government wishes also to draw attention to the fact that the
above-mentioned rights are the only ones which Her Majesty's
Government, in the above-mentioned Convention, has stipulated for
the foreign inhabitants in this Republic, and that only
contravention of these rights can give the British Government the
right of diplomatic intervention; whereas, further, the adjustment
of all other questions concerning the position, or the rights, of
the foreign inhabitants under the said Convention is vested in the
Government and National Representatives of the South African
Republic; among the questions the adjustment of which comes
exclusively under the authority of the Government and the
Volksraad, are those of the Franchise and representation in this
Republic.

Although, therefore, the exclusive right of this Franchise and
representation is indisputable, our Government has approved of
discussing in a friendly way the Franchise and the representation
with Her Majesty's Government; without, however, acknowledging by
so doing any right thereto on the side of Her