Editing Joseph Chamberlain (section)

====South African tour: 1902–03====
[[File:Joseph Chamberlain-South Africa-001.jpg|thumb|A cornerstone laid by Mrs Chamberlain during her husband's South African tour]]
From 26 December 1902 to 25 February 1903, Chamberlain left Britain for a South African tour, seeking to promote Anglo-Afrikaner conciliation and integration into the British Empire. In [[Colony of Natal|Natal]], Chamberlain was given a rapturous welcome. In the former Transvaal, he met Boer leaders who were attempting unsuccessfully to alter the peace terms. The reception given to Chamberlain in the former Orange Free State, (at the time renamed the [[Orange River Colony]]) was surprisingly friendly, although he engaged in a two-hour argument with General [[James Barry Munnik Hertzog]], who accused the British government of violating three terms of the treaty.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

During his visit, Chamberlain became convinced that the Boer territories required a period of government by the British crown before being granted self-governance within the empire. In the Cape, Chamberlain found that the [[Afrikaner Bond]] was more affable regarding his visit than many members of the English speaking [[Progressive Party (Cape Colony)|Progressive Party]], now under the leadership of Jameson, who called Chamberlain "the callous devil from Birmingham". Chamberlain successfully persuaded the prime minister, [[John Gordon Sprigg]], to hold elections as soon as possible, a positive act considering the hostile nature of the [[Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope|Cape Parliament]] since 1899. During the tour, Chamberlain and his wife visited 29 towns, and he delivered 64 speeches and received 84 deputations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joseph Chamberlain {{!}} South African History Online |url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/joseph-chamberlain |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.sahistory.org.za}}</ref>