New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-14
PREMIER REFUSES TERMS
TENT OF THE BOER APPEAL AND THE
BRITISH REPLY


London, March 13.-A Parliamentary paper
containing the kilograms sent to the British Gov
eminent by the Presidents of the South African
Republic and the Orange Free State and Great
Brtain's reply thereto, issued this after
noon. 1t first gives the telegram sent by the
two Presidents to the Marquis of Salisbury. as
follows:
Bloemfontein, March 5-The blood and the
tears Of thousands who have suffered by this
war and the prospect of all moral and economic
rum wherewth South Africa is now Threatened
make 1t necessary for both belligerents to ask
themselves dispassionately and as in the sight
OF the Triune God for what they fighting
ana whether the aim of each justfes all this
appalling misery and devastation
with this object, and in view of the assertions
OF various British statesmen to the effect that
TINS war was begun and is being carried on with
the set purpose of undermining Her Maiestv's
authority IN South Africa and of setting up an
aunlinlstfation over all Of South Africa inde-
pendent of Her Majesty's Government we CON
sluer IL our duty solemny to declare that this
Ndr was undertaken solely a defensive meas
ure TO maintain the threatened independence of
the South African Republic, and is only con-
tlnued in order secure and maintain the in
contestable independence of-both republics as
sovereign international States and to obtain the
assurance that those of Her Maiestv's snhiects
VINO nave taken part with us in this war shall
sulIer no harm whatever in person or property
INDEPENDENCE THE ONLY BASIS,
On these conditions, but on these conditions
alone. are We now, as in the past desirous NJ
seeing peace re-established in South Africa.
while, II Her MajeSty's Government ic 6e+ar
mined TO destroy the independence of the renuh
hes there is nothing left to us and to our neonIa
but to persevere TO the end in the courea 81
ready pegun- In spite of the overwhelming pre-
eInlnence of the British Empire we are con7dar+
mat that God who lighted the inextinguisha bic
hre OF love of freedom in the hearts of ourselves
and of our fathers will not forsake us and will
accomplish His work in and in our de-
scendants.
We hesitated to make this declara tiop. ar,iar
i 10 iour Exceiiency, as we feared that as long
as me advantage was always on side and
as long as our forces held defensive positions
far within Her Majesty's colonies such a dec
laration might hurt the feelings and honor of
the British people. But, that the prestige
of the British Empire may be considered To he
assured by the capture of of our forces by
Her Majesty's troops and that we have there
by been forced to evacuate other positions which
our forces had occupied, that difficulty is over
and can no longer hesitate clearly 70 inforr,,
your Government and people, in the sight of the
whole civilized world, why we are fighting and
| on what conditions ready to restore
peace.
THE REPLY OF LORD SALISBURY.
The Marquis of Salisbury sent the following
reply to the Presidents of the South African
Republic and the Orange Free State
Foreign Office March H.
1 have the honor to acknowledge Your Hon
/, ors telegram, dated March D, from Bloemfon-
tein, of which the purport is principally to de-
mand that Her Majesty's Government shall rec
ognize the 'incontestable independence" of the
South African Republic and Free State las SOW
ereign international States" and offer on
those terms to bring the war to a conclusion
In the beginning of October last peace exist
ed between Her Majesty and the two republics
under conventions which then were in exist
A discussion had been proceeding for
some months between Her Majesty's Govern
ment and the South African Republic. Of which
the object to obtain redress for certain
very serious grievances under which the British
residents in South Africa were suffering In
the course or these negotiations the South Afri-
can Republic had. TO the knowledge of Her
Majesty's Government, made considerable ar
maments and the latter had consequently taken
steps to provide corresponding reinforcements
Of the British garrisons at Cape Town and in
Natal. No infringement of the rights guaran-
teed by the conventions had, up to that point,
taken place on the British side.
THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR.
Suddenly, at two days notice, the South Afri-
Republic, after issuing an insulting ult-
matum declared upon Her Majesty, and
the Orange Free State, with whom there had
not even been any discussion, took similar
step. Her Majesty's dominions were immedi
ately invaded by the two republics Siege was
laid to three towns within the British frontier,
a large portion of two colonies overrun with
great destruction of property and life, and the
renubics claimed 10 treat the inhabitants of
extensive portions of Her Majesty's dominions
as if those dominions had been annexed to one
or the other OF them. In anticipation of these
accumulating for many years past lnll,ary
| stores on an enormous scale which by thelr
| character could only have been intended for
| use against Great Britain.
Your Honors make some observations of neg
atiVe character upon the OBJECT Win WHlcH these
| preparations were made. / do not think IL nee
essary TO discuss the questions you have raised,
| but the result of these preparations carried on
| with great secrecy, has been that the Brltish
| Empire has been compelled TO confront an in
| yasion which has entailed upon the Empire
| costly war and the loss Of thousands of precious
| lives This great calamity has been the pen.
| alty Great Britain has suffered for having or
recent years acquesced to the existence OF the
| two republics.
FLAT REFUSAL OF THE TERMS.
In view Of the use which the two repubilcs
| have put the position which was given them
| and the calamities their unprovoked attack mas
| inflicted on Her Matesty's domlnions, Her MeJ-
| esty's Government can only answer your , f1oll
| ors' telegram by saying they are not prepared
10 assent 10 the independence either OF tlle
| south african Republic or the Orange free
State.
These two dispatches were read in both
| Houses of Parliament to-day and the conciuu-
ing paragraph of the British Premer's reply
ELECTED prolonged cheers.
FRANCE WILL HOLD ALooF.
1,o,;e March I3-There has been secured from