Joseph Chamberlain

Joseph Chamberlain, secretary for the Colonies, as early as 1886 and speaking in the House of Commons, said that war with South Africa would be bitter and costly. He became ‘unofficially’ involved in the Jameson Raid. When it failed he hurriedly distanced himself from it but not before ensuring that for a price, the leaders namely Cecil Rhodes, Wernher Beit and Dr Starr Jameson would keep him out of the scandal. Fortunately for Chamberlain, the German Kaiser Wilhelm II, sent a telegram to President Paul Kruger congratulating him on his escape which immediately gave the raid more status. Joe was off the hook! During October 1899 Chamberlain presented Kruger an ultimatum but the wily Paul beat him to it by offering one of his own. Kruger’s ultimatum expired on October 11th 1899 and since Chamberlain had not replied the British and the Boers were effectively “at war”.