As a consequence of this refusal, the South African Republic
communicated to Great Britain that the "proposal for a five years'
franchise and extension of representation of the Witwatersrand with the
conditions attached thereto" had lapsed, whereby also lapsed the
necessity of laying it before the representatives of the people for
ratification.
During the month of September following, the negotiations failed to
produce any agreement, and matters remained in this unsatisfactory state
until, on October 9, 1899, the ultimatum of President Kruger brought
affairs to an actual crisis.
CHAPTER IV.
ULTIMATUM OF SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, OCTOBER 9, 1899.
The Government of the South African Republic feels itself compelled to
refer the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and
Ireland once more to the Convention of London, 1884, concluded between
this Republic and the United Kingdom and which in its XIVth Article
secures certain specified rights to the white population of this
Republic, namely, that "All persons, other than natives, conforming
themselves to the laws of the South African Republic (_a_) will have
full liberty, with their families, to enter, travel, or reside in any
part of the South African Republic; (_b_) they will be entitled to hire
or possess houses, manufactories, warehouses, shops, and premises; (_c_)
they may carry on their commerce either in person or by any agents whom
they may think fit to employ; (_d_) they will not be subject, in respect
of their persons or property, or in respect of their commerce or
industry, to any taxes, whether general or local, other than those which
are or may be imposed upon citizens of the said Republic.
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