Nr. 10834. meet Dr. Jameson and order him in a still more authoritative manner to britannien. Gross- return? I am apprehensive of the consequences to British as well as to Trans31. Dez.1895. vaal interests in Johannesburg if a collision should take place outside between the forces of the Transvaal and Dr. Jameson. You should confidentially impress on the President the importance of avoiding an armed conflict, in view of the possible ulterior consequences. || I presume, that Mr. Rhodes will see the necessity of co-operating with you in undoing what Dr. Jameson has done. In any case the Company will probably have to pay a pecuniary indemnity for violation of territory and destruction of property by their officer. || Is it true, that an invitation to come in was sent to Dr. Jameson from Johannesburg? Nr. 10835. Nr. 10835. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Derselbe an Denselben. Hat der südafrikanischen Republik seinen Beistand angeboten. Sent 3.10 p. m., 31 st December 1895. Telegraphic. I have thought it expedient to send the following telebritannien. gram en clair to the President of the South African Republic. || Begins: Regret 31. Dez. 1895. to hear of Jameson's action. Sir Hercules Robinson has sent messengers to call him back. Can I co-operate with you further in this emergency in endeavouring to bring about a peaceful arrangement which is essential to all interests in South Africa, and which would be promoted by the concessions that I am assured you are ready to make? Ends. Nr. 10836. britannien. Nr. 10836. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Kolonialamt an die britische südafrikanische Kompagnie. Tadelt den Friedensbruch Jamesons. Downing Street, December 31, 1895. Sir, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acquaint you, that Gross- he has heard, on authority which he cannot doubt, that Dr. Leander Starr 31. Dez. 1895. Jameson, C. B., the Company's Administrator in Matabeleland, who was at Mafeking last Sunday, burst into the South African Republic during the early hours of Monday morning at the head of an armed and mounted force of about 700 men, and is now somewhere between Malmane and Rustenberg, and is destroying the public telegraph line as he goes along. || Mr. Chamberlain desires you to note, that the South African Republic is a foreign State, with which Her Majesty is at peace and in Treaty relations, and in this connection I am to remind you || 1. Of the obligations imposed by the 22nd Article of the Charter of the British South Africa Company to perform and undertake all the Treaty obligations of Her Majesty towards any other state or power. | 2. Of the power reserved by Article 8 to a Secretary of State to make known to the Company his dissent from or objection to any of the dealings of the Company with a foreign Power, and of the obligation of the Company to act in accordance with any suggestion of a Secretary of State founded on such Gross dissent or objection. || 3. Of the further power reserved by Article 35 to the Nr. 10836. Queen to revoke the Charter and revoke and annul the privileges, powers and britannien. rights of the Company under the Charter. || As it is well known, one of the 31. Dez. 1895. obligations of Her Majesty the Queen is to respect the right to self-government of the South African Republic, subject to the provisions of the Conventions between Her Majesty and that State. Dr. Jameson's conduct is only too obviously a breach of that engagement, and assuming for a moment that his act is that of the Company, Mr. Chamberlain, under Article 8, hereby makes known to the British South Africa Company that he dissents from and objects to the proceedings of the Company towards the foreign State styled the South. African Republic, and suggests to the Company that it at once reverse those proceedings. || But, whilst thus taking the appropriate steps prescribed by the charter, Mr. Chamberlain can hardly doubt that, as a matter of fact, the news of Dr. Jameson's action will have been received by the Company with the same feelings of pained surprise as it was by him, and he would be glad to have an early expression of the views of your Directors on the situation. If by any possibility it could be brought home to the Company that they had set Dr. Jameson in motion or were privy to his marauding behaviour, Mr. Chamberlain desires me to observe that Her Majesty's Government would have at once to face a demand for the revocation of the Charter and the dissolution of the Corporation. || Mr. Chamberlain is using the most strenuous endeavours, in correspondence with Sir Hercules Robinson, President Krüger and others, to minimise and avert the consequences of Dr. Jameson's unprecedented act, and he hopes to learn, that the efforts of the Company are being used and will be used in the same direction. Edward Fairfield. Nr. 10837. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Kolonialminister. Bericht über die Lage in Johannesburg. Haltung von Rhodes. Received 1 st January 1896. Gross Telegraphic. 31 st December.-No. 4. Since despatching my three Nr. 10837. cablegrams this morning I have received following two telegrams from British britannien. Agent in the South African Republic: First begins: 31 st December. 1. Jan. 1896. Urgent. Your Excellency's telegram of yesterday received past 9 last evening. I at once went to General Joubert's house and communicated same to him and from there telephoned substance of your message to President of South African Republic. Whilst at General Joubert's house he received further information, that at 5 o'clock Dr. Jameson with four other officers and the force were about three or four hours south-west of Rustenberg. He was seen in the very act of cutting the telegraph wire, and it is said that all communication between there and Bechuanaland is also cut off. General Joubert has issued orders, that this force is to be stopped at all hazards; a large Burgher force has proceeded in this direction, and a collision may take place at any moment. britannien. Nr. 10837. It has now been definitely ascertained, that there is a large organisation at Gross- Johannesburg, and that preparations have gone on for months to forcibly overJan. 1866. throw this Government. A civil war seems inevitable. More than half the Johannesburg people, English as well as other foreigners, are against the revolutionary movement, and will probably side with the Government in every way; the feeling here is intense indignation at British South Africa Company's force invading this country, and there is the strongest suspicion that Her Majesty's Government countenance the movement, or at all events must be cognizant of what was going on or intended. I repudiated both assumptions as impossible; the misery and sufferings that this dreadful business will bring on the whole community of this country cannot be estimated; food-stuffs are already at famine prices, and if railway communications are cut off, as in all probability they may be, there will be famine and starvation, not even to speak of bloodshed, which now seems certain. I have asked his Honour for protection of law-abiding British subjects, which he promised. All special duties have been taken off from all foodstuffs, and further redresses of grievances have been promised by Government. I have offered General Joubert if he should go to Johannesburg with a view to try to avert the threatening danger that I will go with him and also do my best. Does your Excellency approve of this? The position is intensely critical and fraught with the greatest dangers, and all the horrors of civil war. Please intimate what my line of conduct should be. Ends. Second begins: 31st December. Urgent. Your Excellency's telegram with message to Dr. Jameson only reached me at 8 this morning. I hope within an hour to start special messenger well mounted with pass from General to pass through Burgher forces. Government informs me, that Burghers' Commandants have received instructions to allow Jameson's force to return, provided they disarm. Further information received here by Government that another troop of fifteen men of British South Africa Company's police under their officers left Mafeking last night to join Jameson's force who was at Malan's Farm last night near Rustenberg. If this force and the second do not surrender, an engagement seems inevitable. All families who can afford it are leaving Pretoria and Johannesburg. The delays in your Excellency's replies I am informed take place at Cape Town office. Ends. Have seen C. J. Rhodes, who assures me Jameson acted without his authority. As soon as he heard on Sunday that Jameson contemplated entering Transvaal, he at once endeavoured to stop him, but found wires cut. He offered to resign if you or I wished it; but I said I saw no necessity at present for such steps, and I suggested his sending telegram to President of South African Republic which he told me his colleagues in the Cabinet also recommended. I have approved British Agent in South African Republic accompanying Joubert to Johannesburg as proposed. Nr. 10838. GROSSBRITANNIEN.- Derselbe an Denselben. Protest des Oranje- Freistaats gegen Jameson's Zug. Received 1st January 1896. Telegraphic. No. 5, I have received following from Acting Orange Nr. 10839. Free State President: || Begins: President of South African Republic wires, britannien. Gross that an armed force of or about 800 men with Maxims and cannons is 1. Jan. 1896. already 40 miles within the boundary of South African Republic, the officer commanding being Dr. Jameson. The Commandant of Marico on cautioning him to retire beyond the borders of South African Republic received following reply in writing:,,Sir, I am in receipt of your protest of above date, and have to inform you that I intend proceeding with my original plans, which have no hostile intentions against people of Transvaal, but we are here in reply to an invitation from the principal residents of the Rand to assist them in their demands for justice and the ordinary rights of every citizen of a civilized State. (Signed) Jameson." Is your Excellency aware of this? I trust, that your Excellency will see that such action will have very serious consequences as regards the peace and welfare of South Africa. I shall be glad to receive speedy reply. Ends. || I have informed Acting Orange Free State President, that Her Majesty's Government disapprove Dr. Jameson's proceeding and that he has been ordered to retire at once from South African Republic. Nr. 10839. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Derselbe an Denselben. Hat durch eine Proklamation alle britischen Unterthanen Received 1st January 1896. Gross Telegraphic. || 31st December. No. 6. Mr. J. H. Hofmeyr has just Nr. 10839. been to see me. He is indignant at Jameson's invasion of South African britannien. Republic with armed force and says this will be feeling of every Africander 1. Jan. 1896. in South Africa. He says Jameson will disregard the messages he has received from me and the public will not know of them, and he urges me to issue Proclamation publicly repudiating Jameson's action on behalf of Her Majesty's Government and calling on all British subjects to abstain from aiding or abetting him in his armed violation of territory of friendly state. He thinks this step only chance of averting civil war. Acting on your injunction to leave no stone unturned to prevent mischief, I have decided to issue Proclamation and hope you will approve*). Nr. 10840. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Kolonialminister an den Gouverneur in Kapstadt. Massregeln, um Blut- Sent 12.30 p. m., 1st January 1896. Telegraphic. || 1st January. No. 1. Glad to hear of Rhodes's Nr. 10840. repudiation of Jameson, who must be mad. I see no need for Rhodes to Grossbritannien. *) Am folgenden Tage ersuchte Präsident Krüger telegraphisch um eine solche 1. Jan. 1896. Proklamation. britannien. Nr. 10840. resign. Telegraph direct to editors of papers in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Gross- Bloemfontein that you, I and Rhodes repudiate Jameson's action, and that you 1. Jan. 1896. are commanded by Her Majesty to enjoin all her subjects in South African Republic to abstain from aiding or countenancing Jameson or his force, to remain quiet and obey the law and the constitutional authorities, and to avoid tumultuous assemblies or in any manner adding to the excitement. Publish also in Cape press, and if necessary issue an additional formal Proclamation. It seems a clear case for asking President of South African Republic to allow a flag of truce under which De Wet can go up to Jameson and order him in the Queen's name to disarm and retire, making it plain to him that he is practically an outlaw and a filibuster. Of course the British South Africa Company, however innocent, will have to make amends for this outrage. You had better repeat all this to De Wet through Governor of Natal, suggesting to the latter that, with the concurrence of his Ministers, he should issue Proclamation similar to your own. || Her Majesty's Government will repudiate Jameson publicly here. De Wet should, as you ordered Newton to do, communicate with each of Jameson's officers direct, telling those who belong to the regular or reserve forces that they will be cashiered unless they obey Her Majesty's order to disarm and retire. Inform Krüger fully of all steps taken. At the same time impress upon him most strongly necessity of avoiding collision while Her Majesty's Government are doing everything to prevent mischief. || Take all steps you may think necessary in this crisis. I have full confidence in your discretion. The chief things are promptitude and vigour. Nr. 10841. britannien. Nr. 10841. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Kolonialminister. Haltung von Rhodes. Briefe an Jameson. Received 10.6 p. m., 1st January 1896. Telegraphic. | Referring to your telegram of 31st December, I have Gross- asked De Wet to meet Jameson himself, if possible, and to order him in an 1. Jan. 1896. authoritative manner to retire. I have read your message to Rhodes and urged him to make a public disavowal of all complicity with Jameson. I believe, that his colleagues have given him the same advice. I have also impressed on him the necessity for his co-operation in directing Jameson's immediate return. I have seen a copy of a letter to Jameson, dated 20th December, from Messrs. Leonard, Frank Rhodes, Phillips, Hamond and Farrar, asking him to come to their assistance in case of disturbance in Johannesburg. I understand, that these gentlemen now repudiate Jameson's action on the ground that the circumstances contemplated in their letter had not arisen when he started. Jameson's action is condemned throughout all South Africa; not a voice is raised in his support. |