Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-13
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS
Overtures OF Peace.

OvcrbufcS Oh fe8Cc.
London. March 18.-The promise
velopments regarding the peace over.
lures of Presidents Kruger and Steyr
we're given in the House of Lords this
afternoon by Lord Salisbury. Ia reply
to q question by Lord Kimberley, the
premier read the following kilograms
from Bloemfontein sent on March s:
The Presidents of the Free State nd
the South African Republic to the
Marquis of Salisbury
1.-THE blood and tears of Thousands
who have suffered by this war and the
prospect that all the moral and eco
nomic ruin with which South Africa is
now threatened make it nee ssary for
both belligerents to ask themselves dis
passionately and az al Insight on the
tribune of God for what they are fight
ing. aud whether the aim OF each ju sti-
fes this appalling misery and devasts-
ton. With this object and in view of the
assertions OF the various British states
men to the effect that this war was be-
gun and Is being carried on with the
set purpose of Undermining her Males
ty's authority 10 South Africa and es-
tablishing an administration over all
South African Independent of her
majesty's government. we consider it
our duty solemnly to declare that this
war was begun solely as defensive
measure and ss q safeguard to the
threatened independence of the
South Africa republic and con =
tinued in order to secure end safe.
guard the incoutestible independ-
ence OF both republics as sovereign
international States and obtain the
assurance that her msjesty's subjects
who have taken part with US 10 this
war shall suffer no harm whatsoever in
person or property. Ga these condi.
lions alone are We now, as 10 the past
DESTROYS OF seeing peace established
in South Africa and of putting an. end
to the evils now rei2ning. while If her
msjesty's government is determined to
destroy the Independent republics, moth.
ing is left US but to persevere the end
in the course already begun. Dispute
the overwhelming performance OF
4,
who lighted the inexiinRuishable fire OF
love for freedom in our hearts and those
OF our fathers, will not desert US but ac-
complish his work in us and our descep-
dants. We hesitated to make this dec
larstion earlier to your excellency as we
feared that as long as our forces held
offensive positions far 10 her maj s;y's
colonies, such declaration might hurt
the feelings of honor of the British pee
pie. But now that the prestige of the
British empire ia assured through the
capture of one OF our forces and we
were thereby forced to evacuate other
positions, that difficulty is over and We
no longer hesitate to clearly inform
your government and people in sight OF
the whole civilized world why we are
fighting and what conditions we are
ready to accept to restore peace"
London, March 13-Salisbury's re-
ply to the message of the presidents OF
the Boer republics was sent on March
IL. Among other things he said: IL
have the honor to ackno Wedge your
honors' telegram OF which the purport is
principally to demand that her msjes-
ty's government shall recognize the in
contestible independence of the South
African republic and the Orange
Free State as sovereign international
States and to offer, on those terms, to
bring the war to conclusion" After
recapitulatipg everything 10 connection
with the exhaustion of diplomacy the
premier says: SIN two days notice the
South African republic, after issuing an
insulting ultimatum, declared war and
the Orange Free State with whom there
had been no discussion, took
similar steps. This great Gala
nifty has been the penalty
Great Britain has suffered for hav.
Jog 10 recent years acquiesoed in the ex
istence OF two republics. 10 view Of
the use to which the republics put the
position given them, l can only answer
your honors' telegram by saying that
her msjesty's government is not prepar-
ed to assent to the independence of
either the South African republic or the
Orange Free StateU