File:South Africa and the Transvaal war (1900) (14594641559).jpg

Identifier: southafricatrans08cres (find matches)
Title: South Africa and the Transvaal war
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Creswicke, Louis
Subjects: South African War, 1899-1902 Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
Publisher: Edinburgh : T. C. & E. C. Jack
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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onis an accomplished fact—and though the racial antithesis, as wasthe case in Canada, renders the accomplishment more difficult thanin Australia, where a difference in opinion as to fiscal policy wasthe chief obstacle—I am very sure that the vast majority of SouthAfricans, whether British or Dutch, will refuse to contemplate achange to the old state of local jealousies. The sooner SouthAfrican Federation comes, the better for South Africa. Asked to answer the question : Should federation come beforethe new Colonies receive self-government, or concurrendy with thatevent? Sir Edward Barton replied that in his opinion either coursewould create difficulties for the future. Australian Federation, he continued, came out of the willof the pL:ople. The result of a referendum j)roved that a majorityof the people was in favour of federation, and all the States con-sented to the terms thereof. Now if the Transvaal and the OrangeRiver Colonies, communiiies that have enjoyed a form of self- 20
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South African Federation government in the past, had not free choice o( assent or refusal,and joined the South African Federation under compulsion (nomatter how slight a measure of compulsion), constitutional difficultiesmight spring up in the hereafter. Disputes might arise betweenthe federal authority and these two States, and they would say, We were not asked for our consent, we had not complete freedomof choice. In any case, representation must be given to them,and it would be awkward if two out of the five Federal States orProvinces were trying to overthrow the federation. I do not saythis would happen, but the possibility of such an emergency shouldbe seriously considered. It would be safe, I think, to work andwait for a majority in favour of federation ; more especially asthere has existed and still exists, as I am informed, a strong feelingthat the interests of both peoples in South Africa would be furtheredby such a measure. IV Neither Mr. Seddon nor Sir Wilfrid Lauricr grant

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