The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-14

the past. DESTROYS Of seeing peace re-
established in South Africa. while IL her
majesty: soxsTnmsss is dste I'm rsnub.
lies there is nothing left to US and TO our
people but to persevere TO the END IN
The course already oegun IN spi ne, 81 Rr me
fish empire we are confident that God,
who lighted the unextinguishahle ire or
selves, and Of our belief that He will not
forsake US. and that He Will accomplish
his work In these united states and in our
descendants, we hesitsted to make this
declaration earlier TO your exceliency, as
we feared that as long as the advantage
was always on our side and as long as
our forces held defensive positions far
laration might hurt the feelings and honor
OF the British people But now that the
prestige Of the British empire may be con.
sidered to he assured by the capture OF
one of our forces by her matestys troops.
and that we have thereby been forced 10
evacuate other positions which our forces
had occupied that difficulty is over and
we can no longer hesitate 10 clearly in
form your government and people, ir
sight OF the whole civilized world. why
we are ready 10 restore peace"
The Marquis Of salisbury replied TO the
presidents OF the South African repablic
and Orange Free state; oo ,,.s ,
II have the honor to acknowledge your
hanors' telegram, dated March 5, from
oirally TO demand that her majesty's gov
eminent shall recognize the lncontestable
Independence of the South African republic
and Orange Free state as sovereign inter-
national states and TO offer on those
terms TO bring the war TO a conclusion.
In the beginning Of october last peace ex-
isted between her mejestys govern
conventions which then were In
existence. Discussion had been pro-
ceeding for some months between her
-Fs~tz bA :, A
ricen republic. OF which the object was to
obtain redress for certain very serious
grievances under which British residents
in South Africa were suffering. In course
OF these negotiations the South African
republic had. to the knowledge of her ma
testy's government. made consider
and and the latter had consequently
taken steps to provide corresponding rein
forcements of British garrisons at Cape
Town and in Natal No infringement of
up to that pc int taken place on the British
side, Suddenly. at two days notice. the
South African republic, after Issuing an
insulting ultimatum, declared war upon
her majesty, and the Orange Free State,
with when there had not even been any
discussion, took a similar step, Her ma
jestys iominions we're Immediately invad-
ed by the two republics. Siege was laid
10 three towns within the British frontier.
large portion Of the two colonies was
overrun with great destruction OF prop
erty and life. and tho republics claimed to
treat the inhabitants of extensive portions
of her majesty's dominions as II those
dominions had been annexed 10 one or
other OF them In anticipation Of these op-
erations the South African Republic had
been accommodating arms for many years
past which by their character could only
have been intended for use against Great
Britain. Your honors make some obServa-
lions of a meditative character upon the
object with which these preparations were
made do not think II necessary to dts
cuss the question you have raised. but the
result of these preparations, carried on
With great secrecy. has been TINT the
British empire has been compelled 10 con-
front an invasion which has entailed upon
the empire a costly war and the loss OF
thousands of precious lives. This great
calamity has teen the penalty Great Brit
ain has suffered for having OF recent years
acquiesced TO the existence of the two re-
publics In view OF the use to which the
two republics have put that position, which
was given them. and the calamtiss these
unprovoked attacks have inflicted ON her
ma jesty's dominioDs her waiestv's gov
eminent can only answer your telegram
by saying that they are not prepared to
assent TO the independence either of the
South African republic or Orange Free
State"
The correspondence was read in both
houses OF parliament today and the cou-
GLIDING Paragraph of the British prenier's
reply ELECTED prolonged cheers