8.  To join a general Customs union upon equitable conditions.

9.  Restore the High Court to independent power in terms of constitution.

The sequel has shown that Bond counsels prevailed over the suggestions of that old Free Stater.  As to the seven years’ franchise offered under the pretence and colour of meeting Sir Alfred Milner’s demand, it had clearly been intended to serve as a decoy and stop-gap pending the contemplated war of conquest, and to mask Bond duplicity while further preparations were to be completed in diplomacy abroad and in the seditious conspiracy in the Colonies.  Natal was at that time swarming with Boer emissaries, and Transvaal artillery officers with Hollander engineers in disguise were seen inspecting Laing’s Nek tunnel and other strategic points in that colony.

Not knowing at the time that State Secretary Reitz was an inveterate Bondman, that old Free State patriot had roundly denounced to him the wickedness of Bond aims, and added the remark that the establishment of a united Boer Republic apart from British supremacy in South Africa was a deceptive dream.  England has a mission in Africa—­that of the Boers can only be subordinate to it.  It would need the aid of a powerful maritime combination to supplant England.  The case of America does not present an analogy; there England only was actually interested, but here various other nations were concerned in their respective huge investments.  They would have a voice in the business.  Armed intervention would lead to a big European war and extreme misery to entire Africa—­just what the devil wants, but not the investor.  Indiscriminate franchise will cause the loss of national independence, and so might ultimately cosmopolize and obliterate their distinctive nationality, but so would also a war with England, with the total sacrifice of their independence into the bargain.  Let the Government rather prove to England its sincere friendship and agree to deal well by the Uitlanders, treating them as privileged guests, then the unhappy strain in relations will cease.  Above all, renounce that wicked Afrikaner Bond with its motto of conquest.  The demand for franchise is England’s device of self-protection against Bond designs.  England will desist from that demand if we renounce the Bond and prove our friendship.

That old Free Stater had moreover expressed his most earnest conviction that a modus vivendi upon the lines suggested would find ready consideration as an alternative to the five years’ franchise demand, and that the British Government would hail with the utmost satisfaction and relief any tentative towards a sound rapprochement based upon the contentment of the Boer people within the areas of their Republics and which would terminate Bond aspirations for Boer supremacy in South Africa.  Had he been permitted, the old Free Stater would gladly have called upon the British agent at Pretoria, Mr. Conyngham Greene,