ABSTRACT
It has been already seen how Sir G. Grey's policy with regard to South Africa was repudiated by the Home Government, and how his reinstatement in the position of Governor had been on the condition that that policy should be dropped. Whilst the relations between the British Government and Transvaal Orange Free State were becoming more and more strained, separate causes of trouble were at work in the Transvaal. In the Cape colony, responsible government was pressed upon the Colony by the Home authorities. From 1867 onwards there had been serious efforts to diminish the drain upon the Imperial military resources caused by the needs of Cape Colony. In opening the Cape Parliament in 1872, Sir H. Barkly spoke of "the objections to a voluntary union in such confederation of all the territories which form, or have at any time formed, portions of the British possessions", as by no means "insuperable".
