ntiers of our Republic. Taking into consideration certain events
in the history of our Republic, which events need not here be
recited, our Government found themselves compelled to look upon the
Army in the neighbourhood of the frontier as a threat to the
independence of the South African Republic, because they were not
aware of any circumstances which could justify the presence of such
a force in South Africa and in the neighbourhood of their frontier.

In answer to a question concerning this, addressed to His
Excellency the High Commissioner, our Government received, to their
great astonishment, the covert accusation that from the State of
the Republic an attack on Her Majesty's Colonies was being
arranged, and also a mysterious hint of coming possibilities, by
which our Government were strengthened in their suspicion, that the
independence of the Republic was threatened.

As a measure of defence, they were, therefore, compelled to send a
body of burghers to the frontiers in order, if required, to be able
to resist such an eventuality. The unlawful interference of Her
Majesty's Government in the inner policy of our Republic, in
defiance of the London Convention of 1884, which interference
consisted in the exceptional strengthening of troops in the
neighbourhood of the Republic's borders, has thus created an
unbearable state of affairs, of which our Government--not only in
the interests of our Republic, but also in the interests of the
whole of South Africa,--feel it their duty to bring to an end as
speedily as possible, and consider themselves called upon to insist
emphatically and energetically on an immediate conclusion of this
condition of things, and to ask Her Majesty's Government to give
them the assurance (_a_) that all points of mutual difference shall
be adjusted by friendly arbitration, or by any other amicable way
that may be agreed upon between our Government and that of Her
Majesty; (_b_) that the troops on the frontiers of the Republic
shall be recalled at once, and that all reinforcements which, after
the 1st of June, 1899, have arrived in South Africa, shall be
removed within a time agreed upon with our Government,--with the
counter assurance and guarantee from our Government that no attack
on, or hostilities against, any part of