Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-13

Presidents Of the South African Repub-
lie and the Orange Free State:
Foreign office, March Ill have the
honor to acknowledge your honors' tele-
gram, dated March 8, from Bloemton-
TEN, OF which the purpOrt Is princi-
pally 10 demand that her maJestys
government shall recognize the incon-
testible Independence Of the South Afri-
can Republic and Free State as 'soyer-
eign international states, aud 10 offer
on those terms to bring the war to a
conclusion
In the beginning Of October last,
peace existed between her majesty and
the TWO republics under conventions
which then were IN existence A discus
sion had been proceeding for some
months between her majestys govern
ment and the South African Republic,
OF which the object was TO obtain re-
dress for certain very serious grlev-
ances under which the British resi-
dents In South Africa were suffering.
In the course Of these negotiations
the South African Republic had to the
knowledge Of her majestys government
made considerable armaments. and the
latter had consequently taken steps to
ItNNAI WI tAnWRAAuiiE announcements
Of the British gairisons at Capetown
and In Natal. No infringement Of the
rights guaranteed by the conventions
had up TO that point, taken place on
the British side.
suddenly, at two days notice, the
South African Republic after issuing
an insulting utimatum declared war
upon her majesty, and the Orange Free
State with MfhAp1 no
been any discussion. took a similar
step Her majcsty's dominions We're i'm.
mediately invaded by the two repub-
lies. Siege was laid 10 three
towns within the British frontier,
large portion Of two colonies was over
run with great destruction Of property
and life. and the republics claimed TO
treat the inhabitants Of extensive por-
tons OF her majesty's dominons as IL
those dominlons had been annexed 70
one or the other OF them. In anticipa-
ton Of these operations the South
African Republic had been accumulate
ing. for many years past, military
stores on an enormous scale, which by
their character could only have been
intended for use against Great Britain.
Your honors meke some observa-
lions OF a negative character upon the
object with which these preparations
We're made IL do not think Il neces-
sary TO discuss the questions you have
raised But the result OF these prepar-
atoms carried on with great secrecy
has been that the British empire has
been compelled TO confront an invasion
which has entailed upon the empire a
costly war and the loss OF thousands OF
precious lives This great calamity has
been the penalty Great Britain has suf-
fered for having Of recent years ac-
quiesced TO the existence Of two repub-
lies
I'm view OF the use 10 which the two
republics have put the position which
was given them and the calamltles
these unproyoked attacks have infict-
ed on her majestys dominions her
majesty's government can only answer
you honors telegram by saying that
they are not prepared TO assent TO the
independence either Of the South AZ
rlcan Republic or thei Orange Free
State"
The correspondence was read in both
houses Of parliament today and the
concluding paragraph Of the British
premier's reply elected prolonged
cheers.