Orange Free State–United States relations

Last updated
Orange Free State–United States relations
Flag of the Orange Free State.svg
Orange Free State
Flag of the United States.svg
United States

The Orange Free State and the United States began relations in 1871 with the U.S. recognizing the former, but formal relations were never established and ended in 1902 after the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging concluding the Second Boer War.

Contents

History

The United States recognized the Orange Free State when representatives between both states signed the Convention of Friendship and Commerce and Extradition on December 22, 1871, in Bloemfontein, now the current judicial capital of present-day South Africa. [1] The treaty was signed by U.S. Special Agent Willard W. Edgcomb, who served as American Consul at the Cape of Good Hope, and the government secretary of the Orange Free State, Friedrich Kaufmann Höhne. [2] Despite the signing of the agreement, the government of the Orange Free State denounced it on January 4, 1895, twenty-four years later.

On December 16, 1891, Ernst Richard Landgraf was appointed U.S. Consular Agent to the Orange Free State. [1] A consulate office was established in the United States for the Orange Free State until 1902 when the Free State ceased existence.

An extradition treaty was signed on October 28, 1896, in Washington, D.C. by U.S. Secretary of State Richard Olney and the Consul General of the Orange Free State in the United States Charles D. Pierce. [2] The treaty was formally ratified on April 20, 1899, with full effect coming into place the following day on April 21.

Following the British Empire's victory over the Orange Free State in the Second Boer War, it ceased to exist as a sovereign polity, and so did any of its foreign relations - including those with the United States. Despite the end of relations, Consular Agents continued to be appointed to Bloemfontein until it was closed on November 30, 1928. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Free State</span> 1854–1902 Boer republic in Southern Africa

The Orange Free State was an independent Boer sovereign republic under British suzerainty in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeated and surrendered to the British Empire at the end of the Second Boer War in 1902. It is one of the three historical precursors to the present-day Free State province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monaco–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations between the US and Monaco

Monaco and the United States exchanged consular officials soon after the end of the U.S. Civil War. The first consul from Monaco to the US was Louis Borg, who presented his credentials in May 1866.

The Consulates of the Orange Free State formed the official representation of the Orange Free State, a Boer republic, abroad and were established in several European states and in the United States of America between 1855 until 31 May 1902, when the republic ceased to exist.

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the United States formally recognized each other in 1794, but never formally established diplomatic relations. Despite this, both countries appointed representatives and established diplomatic offices until 1860 when the Grand Duchy was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.

Relations between the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the United States date back to 1796 when the U.S. was recognized by the Kingdom of Naples. Relations with the Kingdom continued when Naples reunified with the Kingdom of Sicily which founded the Kingdom of Two Sicilies in 1816. Formal relations were not established until 1832. Diplomatic relations ceased in 1861 when Two Sicilies was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.

Relations between the Kingdom of Sardinia and the United States began in 1802 with mutual recognition, but formal relations were not established until 1839. Diplomatic relations ceased in 1861 when Sardinia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.

The Grand Duchy of Baden and the United States began relations in 1832 going through expansion in 1868 when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Kingdom of Bavaria and the United States began relations in 1833 going through expansion in 1868 when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg and the United States began relations in 1848 with mutual recognition but both countries never established formal relations. Relations continued in 1867 when the Duchy joined the North German Confederation. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Kingdom of Hanover and the United States began relations with mutual recognition in 1830 but never formulated diplomatic ties. All ties came to an abrupt halt when Hanover was defeated during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and subsequently merged directly into the Kingdom of Prussia. From this point, Hanover had relations with the United States as a part of the Kingdom of Prussia.

Relations between the Free Cities of Bremen, Lübeck, and Hamburg and the United States date back to 1790s when Hamburg became the first of the republics to recognized the U.S. on June 17, 1790. Bremen followed suit on March 28, 1794. Diplomatic relations were formally established in October 1853 when the U.S. received Rudolph Schleiden as Minister Resident of the Hanseatic Legation in Washington, D.C. Relations ended in 1868 as the republics would join North German Confederation.

The Grand Duchy of Hesse and the United States began relations in 1829 with mutual recognition going through expansion in 1868 when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1816, but formal relations were never established. Relations continued when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1853, but never formally established diplomatic relations. Relations continued when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Duchy of Nassau and the United States' mutual recognition occurred in 1846 when the two states signed a convention to abolish emigration taxes. During the Austro-Prussian War, the Duchy of Nassau fought on the side of Austria. On the losing side, the Duchy of Nassau was annexed to Prussia on October 3, 1866, ceased to be an independent sovereign state ending relations.

After the Austro-Prussian War the North German Confederation was established in 1866 with the United States recognizing the Confederation in 1867. Formal diplomatic relations were never established. Four years later the Confederation later merged with the German Empire where relations continued.

The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg and the United States began mutual recognition in 1829 but never established formal relations. Relations continued when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1845, but never formally established diplomatic relations. Relations continued when the Principality joined the North German Confederation in 1867 then joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

The Kingdom of Württemberg and the United States began relations in 1825 when both countries mutually recognized each other. Relations continued when Württemberg joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Orange Free State". U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets . United States Department of State.