"I am told that these men (the Boers) are told to keep ou agitating in this way, for a change of Government in England may give them again the old order of things. Nothing can show greater ignorance of English politics than such an idea. I tell you there is no Government-Whig or Tory, Liberal, Conser. vative, or Radical-who would dare, under any circumstances, to give back this country (the Transvaal). They would not dare, because the English people would not allow them."-(Extract from Speech of Sir Garnet Wolseley, delivered at a Public Banquet in Pretoria, on the 17th December 1879.) ... "There was a still stronger reason than that for not receding (from the Transvaal); it was impossible to say what calamities such a step as receding might not cause. . . . For such a risk he could not make himself responsible. Difficulties with the Zulu and the frontier tribes would again arise, and looking as they must to South Africa as a whole, the Government, after a careful consideration of the question, came to the conclusion that we could not relinquish the Transvaal."—(Extract from Speech of Lord Kimberley in the House of Lords, 24th May 1880. H. P. D., vol. cclii., p. 208.) "Our judgment is that the Queen cannot be advised to relinquish the Transvaal."--(Extract from Reply of Mr. Gladstone to Boer Memorial, 8th June 1880.) |