Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-03-17
ENGLAND REFUSES THE PLEA
Will Not Grant Peace to the Re-
publicS on the Basis
They Ask.
MUST GIVE UP INDEPENDENCE.
The South African War Win CoatInue TIN
the Boers Accede TO Such a
Surrender

London, March i6.-A parliamentary |
the British government by the presidents
OF the South African republic and Orange |
Free State, and Great Britain's reply |
thereto, was issued today.
The first telegram sent by the two |
presidents to Marquis Salisbury was as
follows: |
"Bloemfontein, March S.--The blood |
and tears of the thousands who have suf |
fered by this war and the prospect Of all |
moral and economic ruin wherewth |
South Africa is now threatened make it |
necessary for both belligerents to ask God |
for what they are fighting and whether
the aim of each justifes all this appalling |
misery and devastation.
"Whai is its objectr And in view of
the assertions of various British states |
men to the effect that this war was begun
and is being carried on with the set pur-
pose of undermining her majesty's au-
thority i'll South Africa and OF setting up
one over all South Africa, independent
OF her majesty's government, we consider
it our duty to solemnly declare that this
war was undertaken solely as defensive
measure to maintain the threatened indie
pendence of both republics as sovereign
international states, and TO obtain the as
surance that those of her majesty's sub
jects who have taken part with us in this
war shall suffer no harm whatever in per
son or property.
"On these conditions, but on these con
dtions alone, are we now, as in the past
desirous of seeing peace re-establshcd in
: South Africa, while if her majcsty's gov
ernment is determined to destroy the
independence Of our republics there is
nothing left to US and to our people but
J to persevere TO the end in the course al
Il ready begun. In spite of the overwhcm-
$ ing pre- eminence of the British empire
we are confident that God, who light
II ened the unextingushable fire of love Of
freedom in the hearts of ourselves, will
not forsake us, but accomplish his work
Il i'll the United States and in our descend
ants.
. eve hesitated to make this declaration
E earlier to our excellency, as we feared
Il that as long as advantage was always on
our side and as long as our forces held
le defensive positions far within her maies.
"a + = coloEies, such declaration might hurt
the feelings and honor Of the British peu
As pie But now that the prestige OF the
a British empire may be considered to b,
le by her majesty's troops. and that ",
e have thereby been forced To evacuat,
ne other positions which our forces had oc
e cupled, that difficulty is over and we cal
ly no longer hesitate to clearly inform youi
&C, government and the people, in sight o
is the whole civilized world why we AZ,
II, fighting and on what condition we ar
he ready to restore peace"
of LONDON, Mar, h I6,--lf the Transvaa
ny secures independence il will be only b.
defeating the English armies In regar
he to peace overtures Marquis Salisbury
i'd, reply to the presidents Of the South Afr
can republic and tise Orange Free Stat
he was as follows:
M Il have the honor to acknowledge you
honors' telegram, dated March &, froi
Bloemfontein, Of which the pnrport
principally to demand that her majesty
government shall recognize the 'incoi
-. testible independence of the South Afr
can republic and the Orange Free Stat
as sovereign International states and
re- offer on those terms to bring the war to
mis- conclusion. In the beginning Of Octob'
in last peace existed between her majesty
rur government and the two republics und
inc conventions which were then in eNi,
for ence Discussion had been proceedif
ills for some time between her majesty's 60
the ernment and the South African repupl'
r of which the object was to obtain redrc
,cr- for certain very serious grievances und
which British residents in South Afrl
ish. were suffering.
,ut. "In the course of these negotiations 4
South African republic had TO the know
IS a edge of her majesty's government, MAJ
ned considerable ornaments, and the latt
the had consequently taken steps to provi
the con- esponding reiniorcements Of the Br
req ish garrisons at Capetown and IN 4
arp Natal. No infringement q 'he riSi
les guaranteed by the conventions had
son. to that point taken place on the Britt
1op, side.
dry. Suddenly, at two days notice, I
If South African republic, after issuing
arch insulting ultmatunl' declare" war up
With her majesty, and the Orange Free Sta
II in with whom there had not even been a
discussion took similar step. Her M
esty's douiin,ons were immediately
=" yaded by the two republics. Siege "