THE TRANSVAAL PROTEST.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 60, 23 November 1878, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL PROTEST.

On August 14th there was issuoil from i thu Colonial Office a Parliamentary |i:ti>i<t' i • taining it letter dated .)i\ly 10, from 1 Messrs. Kriigor ami Jouhcrt, delegates ' from the Transvaal, to the Colonial No- i erctary, renewing the protest of the . people of South African Republic against i the annexation of the Transvaal territory. I The delegates declare that the Govarn- ( inent and people of the llepublio had un fear of a Zulu invasion, and they attribute unhesitatingly to Sir T. Slicpstonu the present crisis and the threatened hostilities of Cetywayo. In conclusion, thoy protest against tho annexation of tho | Transvaal on the following grounds:—" I. That it is a violation of tim convention < entered into at Sand [liver in January, IN.-)2, between Iter Majesty's Assistant Commissioners and tho representatives of ' the emigrant fanners. 2. That the re- J porls as to tin.' ntture of the dilsurbanoes ' in the Transvaal, and tho peril fo the v peace and Biifety of tho adjoining colonies ' tliercl>3* threatened, upon which the in- r structions of Sir theophilus IShepstono ' wore founded, were gross exaggerations l of fact, and misrepresented the actual 8 condition of the country. 3. Thai (he r Condition laid down in Her Majesty's 1: l'iini:ii>s;nn toPir Thoopllilus Shepstono ' requiring tho assent of the inliahitants '' I thereof, or a sufficient dumber of them, ' or the Legislature thereof, has nol been complied with. 4. That the British I (lovernmonl cannot with jin>tie« avail p themselves of tin'plea l l;;it the defunct'- p lessnesg and disorganisation of tlm ){,.. ;j public, and the uncronclummts i i t! ■■ na- ii lives eonscqueiil danger t,i ih„ |lritiHh 'I . i toniu*, made (!,,■ intui'vi i.i ,i .ii their a

■ dated lava, far liich had :•;■•'.. tl ' nl v should in w !>■• v ■ .nd Sir ilichael proi ■ eds to n \ ail the si::ii incuts and argunieiitsof the showing that • it « - neither lustily, unjustly, nor need Her Majesty s Govei intervened li the url'nirs of Transvaal.'' In con•lusion, he says :—•" 1 i uuiml r< frain 'rem expressing the groat i ivhieh 1 have, observed the stateincut in the memorial that the nienorialists ere ' trying the last means to ibtain their end bv peaceful measures, md that 'the peopie will not be subject to any powi r whatsoever.' I cannot believe that your fellow-countrymen would attempt U< resist by mice the Govcrmmml ilulv established in the countrv in whicl they dwell, more especially 'when thai Government is just and considerate, am preserves to the utmost those custom! and institutions to which the I pie an attach d. The experience of this Empire, which comprises among the Quecn't mini loyal subjects not only great numbers of' Dutch, but also French and Germans, and persons of almost every nationality, forbids me to entertain seriously any" such idea. But it is not the less my duly to warn you of the grave respiuisi bility incurred, not only hy those win would have recourse to any other thai peaceable muiMircs, but. perhaps, evei more by all who, having full knowledg of the circumstances, fail to do the tit most in their power to dissuade the niori ignorant and excitable portion of tin community from so calamitous a course.' European Mail.