Editing Orange Free State (section)

===Foreign relations===
The Orange Free State was one of two Boer Republics, alongside the Transvaal, able to persist and prosper long enough to gain international recognition. The Orange Free State would eventually establish diplomatic relations with the Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, the United States, and the United Kingdom.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010307024437/http://www.outspan.com/books/boers/boers04.htm The Story of the Boers. C. W. Van Der Hoogt. Chapter: A Century of Injustice. p. 96.]</ref>
In addition to connections with the [[Concert of Europe|Great Powers]], the Orange Free State maintained  political ties, manifested in varying forms with neighboring Transvaal and regularly sent and received official missions to and from regional significant native African tribes.

Despite the republic's small size, immense distance and relative historical poverty, the Orange Free State established consuls of official representation in several European states and [[Orange Free State–United States relations|in the United States of America]] between 1855 and 31 May 1902, when the republic ceased to exist. The first, and throughout the existence of the republic, most important consular post was the [[Consulate General]] of the Orange Free State in the [[Netherlands]]. Between 1871 and 1902, the consul general in the Netherlands at times also held diplomatic prerogatives, with the title of 'special envoy'. In this capacity the incumbent was charged with negotiating and concluding treaties with other states and international organisations on behalf of the Orange Free State government.<ref>{{cite book | last=Spies | first = F.J. du Toit | title = Hamelberg en die Oranje Vrijstaat | location = Amsterdam |publisher = Swets & Zeitlinger (PhD dissertation Leiden) | date = 1941}}</ref>{{page needed|date=February 2022}}<ref>{{cite book | last=Spies | first = F.J. du Toit | title = 'n Nederlander in diens van die Oranje-Vrystaat. Uit die nagelate papiere van Dr. Hendrik P.N. Muller, oud-konsul-generaal van die Oranje-Vrystaat| location = Amsterdam |publisher = Swets & Zeitlinger | date = 1946}}</ref>{{page needed|date=February 2022}}

{{Consulates of the Orange Free State}}