ander party in England." The writer
of this article suggests, however, that there is still a prospect that
the "good cause" may be promoted, after all, in the way which he
desires.

[Sidenote: Origin of the movement.]

This prospect was speedily realised. With characteristic astuteness,
the Bond leaders discovered a method by which their object could be
achieved without exposing themselves to the reproach of "stirring up
strife." The meetings were to be held, not as Bond meetings, but as
"conciliation" meetings. The manner in which the machinery of the
conciliation movement was originally set in motion will appear from
the following telegram, which President Krueger sent to President
Steyn, on January 20th--that is, a little more than a month before the
Bond Congress was postponed:

"A certain E. T. Hargrove, an English journalist, about whom Dr.
Leyds formerly wrote that he had done much in Holland to work up
the peace memorial to Queen Victoria, has come here, as he says,
from Sauer and Merriman, who are ready to range themselves openly
on our side, to make propaganda in the Cape Colony, provided an
official declaration is given that the Republics only desire to
secure complete independence. He wished that I should write a
letter to Queen Victoria, but this I refused, and thought it
desirable that I should write a letter to him personally, in
which an answer is given to his question. He thinks that a great
propaganda can be made in the Cape Colony, whereby influence can
be brought to bear again on the English people and the world. I
myself do not expect much result, but think that a letter can do
good, and should be glad to have your opinion and observations as
soon as possible."[217]

[Footnote 217: Cd. 261.]

This telegram, one of the many documents found at Bloemfontein upon
its occupation by Lord Roberts, is supplemented by the further facts
disclosed by the investigations of the Concessions Commission, that a
sum of L1,000 was advanced to Mr. Hargrove by the manager of the
Netherlands Railway on February 3rd, 1900, and that this loan, paid in
specie, was "debited to the account 'Political Situation,' to be
hereafter arranged with the Government." The purposes for which Mr.
Hargrove secured this large sum are stated in the following question
and answer:

[Sidenote: Mr. Hargrove's L1,000.]

Q. 591. "Did he ask for mon