relieve him had so far no success. On January 23 Buller was defeated at Spion Kop; on February 5 at Vaal Kranz From this time matters began to improve. On February 7 Roberts left Cape Town. On the 15th French, the able cavalry leader, relieved Kimberley, and on the 27th Cronjé surrendered to Kitchener at Paardeberg. This rapid advance lightened the pressure of the situation in Natal. Ladysmith was relieved by Buller, who, at Pieter's Hill, on February 27, had won a brilliant success. Meanwhile Roberts was advancing, and after occupying Bloemfontein on March 13, he annexed, on May 28, the Orange Free State to Great Britain. Overthrow Boers, 1900. The relief of Mafeking, which had held out for some months under the gallant General Baden-Powell, was effected on May 18, and on June 5 Roberts entered Pretoria. The battle of Diamond Hill on June 11 ended in a British victory, and on of the September 1 the annexation of the Transvaal by Great Britain was proclaimed. In November, Roberts, thinking the war was over, handed over the command to Kitchener and returned to England. In September parliament had been dissolved, and as the country was determined to bring the war to a successful conclusion the Unionists secured a large majority. Lord Salisbury was again Premier, and remained in office till 1902. A long and wearisome guerrilla warfare, however, followed the return of Roberts to England, which called out the skill of Kitchener and the best qualities of the British soldier. It was not till June 1, End of the 1902, that Botha, De Wet, and De la Rey recognised the War, 1902. futility of continuing the war, and signed the Peace of Vereeniging. By that Treaty the Transvaal and the Orange Free State were definitely incorporated with the British Empire. On January 1, 1901, the Australian Commonwealth came into existence. The six colonies were henceforward to be joined in one Federal Union, and took the name of States. The Australian continent is now occupied by one nation. One result of this important step has been to bring the Home Country and the Australian people into closer relations. Before, however, the conclusion of the war Queen Victoria had died. In the previous year she had visited Dublin to show her appreciation of the bravery of Irish soldiers in the South African War. On January 22, 1901, she died at Osborne. She had ascended the throne in 1837, and had ruled over her Death of dominions with 'incomparable judgment.' That quality, 1901. together with her 'passionate patriotism,' had endeared her to gene Death of Gordon, Mr. Gladstone accepts Home Rule, rations of Englishmen all over the world, and she will always be regarded as the best type of a constitutional monarch. Household Suffrage in counties, First Home Rule Bill rejected, First Colonial Conference, Second Home Rule Bill rejected, A.D. 1867 1869 1870 1870 1872 1878 1881 1882 1885 1885 1885 1886 1887 1893 1894 Death of Lord Salisbury-The Far East-Russo-Japanese War-Treaty with Japan-Campbell Bannerman's Ministry-Mr. Asquith's Ministry-PanAnglican Conference-Austria and Bosnia-Old Age Pensions Bill-The Union Bill of South Africa-Indian Council Bill-Irish Land Bill-The Budget of 1909-General Election of 1910-Death of the King. EDWARD VII. Succeeded to the throne while the country was still involved in the Boer War. That war, however, ended on June 1, 1902, and after an interval of recuperation South Africa has Accession of entered upon a new period in her history. Edward VII. One result of the South African War was the increase of the feeling of solidarity between the Mother Country and the self-governing Colonies. The ties binding Great Britain to those Colonies have been enormously strengthened, and consequently the British Empire is now in a far stronger position than at any previous period. Death of In 1902 Lord Salisbury retired from active political life and Mr. Balfour became Prime Minister. In 1904 Lord Salisbury died. Lord Salisbury had played a conspicuous part in English politics during the last thirty years of the nineteenth Lord Saliscentury. Unlike Mr. Gladstone, who cared chiefly for home politics, Lord Salisbury had a profound knowledge of foreign bury, 1904. politics. He accompanied Lord Beaconsfield to Berlin in 1878 and on his death became the leader of the Conservative party. Rarely if ever have English politics been watched over by so able a statesman. His historical knowledge was very considerable, while his literary gifts, like his oratory, raised him far above the ordinary politician. He guided Great Britain through various crises of her history, and showed consummate skill in dealing with Foreign Powers, and in establishing and preserving his country's prestige. Before King Edward had been long on the throne events of far-reaching importance occurred which may in the future have a profound influence upon the fortunes of the British The Far Empire. Taking advantage of the disorder prevalent in China, Japan was enabled to throw her whole strength into a struggle with Russia which for a time has seriously weakened the kingdom of the Tzars. During the South African War China was the scene of disorder. While the various European countries endeavoured to further schemes The Boxer for the making of railways in China, a revolution took Rising, 1900. place in Pekin. The hitherto powerful minister, Li-HungChan, fell from power, and the Dowager Empress opposed with success the Emperor's attempts to introduce reforms on the lines of Western ideas. The overthrow of the reforming party and the practical imprisonment of the Emperor by the Dowager Empress were accompanied by local rebellions and much discontent. In April 1900 riots and massacres of Europeans and native Christians in Pekin and other parts of the Empire took place. The German Ambassador was murdered in Pekin, and the European Ambassadors were closely besieged in their Legations. The European nations at once sent contingents, as did the Japanese and the United States. Tientsin was taken in July, and by the middle of August the expeditionary force reached Pekin. The Chinese government claimed that the whole trouble was due to the 'Boxers,' an organisation formed to bring about the expulsion of all foreigners from China. The Powers united in demanding from the government which had retired from Pekin the punishment of the officials responsible for the late troubles and an indemnity. It was not till September 1901 that Pekin was evacuated by the foreign troops, and in January 1902 the Court returned. In 1902 an Anglo-Japanese agreement, necessitated by a previous attempt of Russia to obtain China's consent to her permanent occupation of Manchuria, secured the independence of China and Corea. 1905 Balfour-Campbell Bannerman 1051 Before long, however, the Japanese took ample revenge for the loss of Port Arthur in 1898. In 1904 war broke out between Russia and Japan and after a severe struggle the Japanese proved The Russosuccessful on land and sea. Port Arthur was recovered, Japanese War, 1904. the hold of Japan upon Corea was re-established, and the Russian fleet was destroyed. The balance of power in the Far East was revolutionised, and in 1905 an Anglo-Japanese alliance was concluded. Great Britain The Treaty with Japan was received in Great Britain as well as in Japan with great satisfaction. Its object was declared by Lord Lansdowne to be peace. The advisability of concluding it fully Treaty of justified Mr. Balfour in remaining in office during the year with Japan, 1905. The re-shaping of the Far East is taking place, 1905and Great Britain is of all European countries the most interested. On September 28 an agreement between France and Germany regarding Morocco was published. During the last three months of the year the government became rapidly weaker. The retirement of Mr. Chamberlain from the ministry and his advocacy of Tariff Reform dealt the Conservative party a blow from which it could not recover. It was evident that a serious divergence of views existed between Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain, and the former took the only possible course open to him when he resolved to lay down the reins of office. majority in On December 4 Mr. Balfour resigned the office of Prime Minister, and Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman formed a ministry. In it were included Sir Robert Reid, Lord Chancellor, the Earl Liberal of Crewe, Lord Ripon, Mr. H. Gladstone, Sir Edward Grey, the Elections the Earl of Elgin, Mr. John Morley, Mr. Asquith, Lord of 1906. Tweedmouth, Mr. John Sinclair, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Campbell John Burns, Earl Carrington, Mr. Birrell, Sir H. Fowler, Prime Mr. Bryce, Mr. S. Buxton. The formation of the Ministry gave general satisfaction, and a Liberal victory at the polls was regarded as certain. Bannerman Minister. The General Election took place in January and February 1906, and resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Liberal party. That party, including the Labour and Nationalist sections, numbered 377; while the Conservatives and Liberal Unionists only reached 157. Disaster led to, and rapidly strengthened the union between Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain, and henceforward Tariff Reform became the watchword of the Unionist party. During the year the Government showed great legislative activity and passed many useful measures. |