1-150-943 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'A Terrible Threat!', 1884. The Liberal Prime Minister, Mr Gladstone, is the elderly gentleman in a dressing-gown. He is being severe with a South African Boer soldier. This relates to recent difficulties in the Transvaal, now to be known as the South African Republic. The Treaty of Pretoria, signed in 1881 after the Boer War, was amended and three delegates from South Africa returned home with significant concessions in their favour. The British government retained its Protectorate over the Bechuanas, but the Boers declared war and murdered an Englishman who was acting as agent to one of the Bechuana chiefs. Mr Gladstone was warned that he would have to compel the Boers to observe the terms of the Treaty. From Punch, or the London Charivari, October 11, 1884.