I could understand a war in defence of the South African Republic after it has made reasonable concessions to the demands of the new-comers, and after it has displayed the same desire to secure good government as is seen in the Orange Free State; but of such a desire I have not seen the faintest trace." He alludes again to the doings of Dr.Reitz and Smuts:-- "I have carefully read the latest correspondence, and I am by no means satisfied that the British Resident was guilty of a breach of faith.

The utmost I would say is that there was a misunderstanding.
The dispatch of the 21st August seems to me to have been wholly unnecessary, unless something happened between the 19th and 21st which led the Transvaal Government to think they had yielded too much.

I have heard it said that between those dates a cablegram from Dr.Leyds gave hopes of European intervention...." Does this telegram exist?
It is indeed likely.

At any rate the responsibility of the war rests upon those who--be they diplomatists or journalists--have deluded Dr.Leyds to that extent.

And the blood which is now shed is on the head of those who still try and persuade the Boers that Russia, Germany, or France is going to interfere.
In _Le Siecle_ of the 3rd September, extracts from the "Blue Book" have been printed.