Kruger's external policy had been to try to enlarge the frontiers of the Transvaal at the expense of Great Britain. In successive disputes he usually gained something, but in 1895 he was definitely defeated in his endeavours to reach the sea at Delagoa Bay. His internal policy was narrow and bigoted. It is said that in replying to a deputation of Uitlanders, who desired to obtain legal status for the English language in the Transvaal he stated "This is my country ; these are my laws. Those who do not like to obey my laws can leave my country." The Jameson Raid strengthened him in his resistance to reform of the franchise or any concession to the Uitlanders. It also strengthened his hold on his own people.
In 1898 Kruger was again elected president of the Transvaal, this time with an overwhelming majority. A conference was arranged at Bloemfontein between Sir Alfred (afterwards Lord) Milner, the high commissioner, and President Kruger on the fran chise and other questions. No agreement was reached. In Oct. 1899, of ter a long and fruitless correspondence with the British government, war with Great Britain was ushered in by an ulti matum from the Transvaal. (See SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.) In 1900, Bloemfontein and Pretoria having been occupied by British troops, Kruger, too old to go on commando, with the consent of his executive proceeded to Europe, where he endeavoured in vain to induce the European powers to intervene on his behalf.
He took up his residence at Utrecht, where he dictated a record of his career, published in 1902 under the title of The Memoirs of Paul Kruger. He died on July 14, 1904, at Clarens, near Vevey, on the shores of the Lake of Geneva. He was buried at Pretoria on the following Dec. 16, Dingaan's day, the anniversary of the day in 1838 when the Boers crushed the Zulu king Dingaan—a fight in which Kruger, then a lad of 13, had taken part. Kruger was thrice married, and had a large family.
See J. F. van Oordt, P. Kruger en de opkomst d. Republiek (Amsterdam, 1898) ; the Memoirs already mentioned; F. R. Statham, Paul Kruger and his Times (1898) ; and, among works with a wider scope, G. M. Theal, History of South Africa (for events down to 1872 only) ; Sir J. P. Fitzpatrick, The Transvaal from Within (1899) ; The Times History of the War in South Africa ; A. P. Hillier, South African Studies (Iwo) ; Philip R. Botha, Die Staatkundige antwikkeling van die Zuid-Afrikaanse Re publiek onder Kruger en Leyds, etc. (1926) ; H. Hallman, Krugerde pesche and Flotterfrage, etc. (1927) ; J. P. La G. Lombard, Paul Kruger, die Volksman (1925).