The first and great question which the Transvaal Delegates desired to settle in their own interests was that of the Western boundary line, amended by themselves, which was represented on a map.  They were informed that their amended treaty was “neither in form nor in substance such as Her Majesty’s Government could adopt,” there being “certain Chiefs who had objected, on behalf of their people, to be included in the Transvaal, and there being a strong feeling in London in favour of the independence of these natives, or (if they, the natives, desired it) of their coming under British rule.”  There was now brought before the delegates a map showing the addition of land which was eventually granted to the Transvaal, but the delegates would not agree to any such arrangement.  Her Majesty’s Government were giving away to them some 2,600 square miles of native territory, concerning which there was no clear evidence that its owners wished to be joined to the Transvaal.  But this was nothing to the Transvaal demand, as shown by a map which they put in, and which included an additional block of 4,000 square miles.  Not finding agreement with the Government possible, the delegates then turned from that position, and took up the question of the remission of the debt which the Transvaal owed to England, saying that the wishes of the native chiefs should be consulted first about the boundary line.  This was a bold stroke; they were professing to be representing the interests of certain chiefs, which was not the case.

Lord Derby telegraphed to the Cape on the 27th of Feb. 1884, the result of the protracted labours of the Conference at Downing Street, mentioning:—­“British Protectorate established outside the Transvaal, with Delegates’ consent.  Debt reduced to quarter of a million."[17] To many persons it seems that the Convention of 1884, rather than the Convention of 1881, was the real blunder.  It is remarkable, however, as illustrating the small attention which South African affairs then received, that no party controversy was aroused over this later instrument.  Very soon afterwards, however, the question became acute, owing to the action of Mr. Kruger; and then, it must be remembered, that Mr. Gladstone did not hesitate to appeal to the armed strength of the Empire in order to defend British interests and prevent the extension of Boer rule.  That there was not war in 1884 was due only to the fact that Mr. Kruger at that time did not choose to fight.  The raiders and filibusters were put down before by Sir Charles Warren’s force, but Mr. Gladstone had taken every precaution in view of the contingency of a collision.