ctuated in his Transvaal policy by considerations of
private financial interest.

The Government and Volksraad of the South African Republic adopted the
wiser plan of lowering the price of dynamite to such an extent as to
make it about equal to the local European price plus a protective tariff
of 20s. per case.

It may here be remarked that Mr. Chamberlain, knowing how unpopular the
Dynamite Concession was in the South African Republic, intimated to the
Government of the South African Republic, in a very threatening manner,
that the Concession was in conflict with the London Convention.

The answer of the Government to this communication was so crushing that
Mr. Chamberlain did not again return to the subject. In this he was, no
doubt, also actuated by the fact that the most renowned English and
European jurists had advised that the concession was in no sense a
breach of the Convention. This, however, only became known later, and it
is merely referred to now so as to show that no stone was left unturned
in order to find a means of humiliating the South African Republic.

[Sidenote: The Netherlands Railway Company.]

2. With regard to the Netherlands South African Railway Company, it
would appear that the Capitalists have altered their opinion, and now
think that the administration of the Company is as good as can
reasonably be expected, and that expropriation is now unnecessary.
Perhaps, from their point of view, it would be better to buy up the
shares of the Company, and thus become themselves masters, instead of
the Government, of this source of income.

Respecting the Railway tariff, it is fair to assume that the cause of
dissatisfaction has disappeared, for no complaints are now heard since
the tariff was lowered in accordance with the recommendations of the
Commission.

[Sidenote: Reduction of import duties]

This change in the tariff, together with the abolition of duties on
nearly all necessaries of life have made a difference of about L700,000
in the income of the State during the last year. It will be admitted
that this is an enormous item in comparison with the total income of
the South African Republic. The above tends to show how anxious the
Government of the South African Republic has been to remove all
grievances as soon as it was proved that they actually existed.

[Sidenote: Liquor, Pass, and Gold Thefts Laws.]

3. As regards the administration of the Liquor Law, the Pass Law, and
the Law dea