Self.  ’I am not criticising your policy or tactics.  You hated us bitterly—­I dare say you had cause to.  You made tremendous preparations—­I don’t say you were wrong—­but look at it from our point of view.  We saw a declared enemy armed and arming.  Against us, and against us alone, could his preparations be directed.  It was time we took some precautions:  indeed, we were already too late.  Surely what has happened at the front proves that we had no designs against you.  You were ready.  We were unready.  It is the wolf and lamb if you like; but the wolf was asleep and never before was a lamb with such teeth and claws.’

Grobelaar.  ’Do you really mean to say that we forced this war on you, that you did not want to fight us?’

Self.  ’The country did not wish for war with the Boers.  Personally, I have always done so.  I saw that you had six rifles to every burgher in the Republic.  I knew what that meant.  It meant that you were going to raise a great Afrikander revolt against us.  One does not set extra places at table unless one expects company to dinner.  On the other hand, we have affairs all over the world, and at any moment may become embroiled with a European power.  At this time things are very quiet.  The board is clear in other directions.  We can give you our undivided attention.  Armed and ambitious as you were, the war had to come sooner or later.  I have always said “sooner.”  Therefore, I rejoiced when you sent your ultimatum and roused the whole nation.’

Malan.  ‘You don’t rejoice quite so much now.’

Self.  ’My opinion is unaltered, except that the necessity for settling the matter has become more apparent.  As for the result, that, as I think Mr. Grobelaar knows, is only a question of time and money expressed in terms of blood and tears.’

Grobelaar.  ’No:  our opinion is quite unchanged.  We prepared for the war.  We have always thought we could beat you.  We do not doubt our calculations now.  We have done better even than we expected.  The President is extremely pleased.’

Self.  ’There is no good arguing on that point.  We shall have to fight it out.  But if you had tried to keep on friendly terms with us, the war would not have come for a long time; and the delay was all on your side.’

Grobelaar.  ’We have tried till we are sick of it.  This Government was badgered out of its life with Chamberlain’s despatches—­such despatches.  And then look how we have been lied about in your papers, and called barbarians and savages.’

Self.  ’I think you have certainly been abused unjustly.  Indeed, when I was taken prisoner the other day, I thought it quite possible I should be put to death, although I was a correspondent’ (great laughter, ’Fancy that!’ etc.).  ’At the best I expected to be held in prison as a kind of hostage.  See how I have been mistaken.’

I pointed at the sentry who stood in the doorway, for even members of the Government could not visit us alone.  Grobelaar flushed.  ’Oh, well, we will hope that the captivity will not impair your spirits.  Besides, it will not last long.  The President expects peace before the New Year.’