ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC.
_F.W. Reitz to British Agent._
_19th August._
_Sir_, With reference to your proposal for a joint enquiry in your
dispatches of the 2nd and 3rd August, Government of South African
Republic have the honour to suggest the following alternative proposal
for consideration of Her Majesty's Government, which this Government
trusts may lead to a final settlement: (1) The Government are willing to
recommend to the Volksraad and the people a 5 years' retrospective
franchise, as proposed by His Excellency the High Commissioner on the
1st June, 1899. (2) The Government are further willing to recommend to
the Volksraad that 8 new seats in the First Volksraad, and, if
necessary, also in the Second Volksraad, be given to the population of
the Witwatersrand, thus with the 2 sitting members for the Goldfields,
giving to the population thereof 10 representatives in a Raad of 36, and
in future the representation of the Goldfields of this Republic shall
not fall below the proportion of one-fourth of the total. (3) The new
burghers shall equally with the old burghers be entitled to vote at the
election for State President and Commandant-General. (4) This Government
will always be prepared to take into consideration such friendly
suggestions regarding the details of the Franchise Law as Her Majesty's
Government, through the British Agent, may wish to convey to it.
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