In presenting this Ultimatum President Kruger knew that the Republic would not have to fight alone, but that there would be practically a war of the South African Dutch against the English. The declaration of the Orange Free State to Great Britain will therefore be of interest, as expressing the grounds of sympathy between the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, and the latter's view of the causa belli. Lastly we add the constitution of the Orange Free State that the political status of the two republics may be appreciated by comparison of their constitutions.
The documents have been compiled from the Codex van de Locale Wetten der Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek. Gröningen, 1894; The Political Laws of the South African Republic. London and Cape Town, 1896; and the State Papers of Great Britain, London, 1884-99.
Washington, February 10, 1900.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| 1. Convention of London, February 27, 1884 | [7] |
| 2. Ratification by Volksraad, August 8, 1884 | [14] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| 3. Constitution of the South African Republic, revised and published December 25, 1889 | [16] |
| 4. Establishment of the Second Volksraad, June 23, 1890 | [40] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| The Franchise. | |
| 5. The Franchise Law. July 26, 1899 | [47] |
| 6. Proposed modification | |
| (a) Proposal of Great Britain for a joint inquiry, August 2, 1899 | [53] |
| (b) Alternative proposal of the South African Republic—The five year franchise, August 19, 1899 | [53] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| 7. Ultimatum of South African Republic, October 9, 1899 | [57] |
| 8. Reply of Great Britain, October 10, 1899 | [61] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Dual alliance of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. | |
| 9. Resolution of Orange Free State Volksraad, September 27, 1899 | [62] |
| 10. Correspondence between Great Britain and Orange Free State, October 11, 1899 | [63] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| 11. Constitution of Orange Free State, revised and published, 1868 | [65] |