Early in January, 1896, the Jameson raid into the Transvaal was defeated, and the Kaiser immediately telegraphed his congratulations to President Krtiger.

In view of the possibilities involved in this South African situation, British public opinion demanded that her diplomats maintain peace with the United States, with or without the desired formula.
The British Government, however, was not inclined to act with undue haste.

It became apparent even to the most panicky that war with the United States could not come immediately, for the American Commission of Inquiry must first report.

For a time Lord Salisbury hoped that Congress would not support the President--a contingency which not infrequently happened under Cleveland's Administration.

On this question of foreign relations, however, Congress stood squarely behind the President.