The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-13

4 their independence an essential condi-
ion.
The answer Of her Maiesty's Government,
ord Salisbury said. was that. in view Of
he use to which tFe Republics had put the
,owers given to them. il Cthe British Gov
.rnmenD was not prepared TO assent to the
either of the South African
2publie or the Orange Free State.
The following is the full text of the
peace proposals which Presidents Kruger
and Steyn sent to Lord Salisbury, under
late OF Bloemfontein, March .:
The blood and the tears Of the
thousands who have suffered i'm this
war, and the prospects OF the moral
and economic ruin with which South
Africa Is BOW threatened. make H. nee
essaTy for both helligerents 20 ask
themselves. dispassiOuately and in the
sight o. the true God, for what they
are fighting. and whether the aim Of
such iustiEes all the appalling misery
and devastation
with this object. and in view Of the
assertions OF various British states
men 20 the effect tha, this war was
begun and is being carried out for the
jcsty's authority iu South Africa and
10 set up an administration In the
South African Republic Independent OF
Her Maiesiy's Government, we con-
slider 70 our duty to sClemuly declare
that the war was undertaken solely as
defensive measure 10 safeguard
the threatened independence OF the
South African Republics aud is only
continued in order TO secure and safe
guard the inevitable destiny of both re-
Tublics as sovereign national states
and TO obtain the assurance that those
Cf Her Maiesty's subjects who have
taken part with us in this war shall
suffer no harm whatever in person or IN
property.
"On these conditions and ON fhase
conditions alone. are We now. as i'm the
past. dcsirOus OF seeing peace re-es-
tablished I'm the south African BCpub-
lies and Of putting an end to the evils
now reiguiuC over South Africa.
while Her Ndjcsty's Government is
determined TO destroy the independence
Of the republics there is nothing left
10 us and our people but TO perseyerc
fn the course already taken.
In spite Of the overwhelming pre-
eniusuce OF the British Empire we are
confident that the God who lighted the
ineNtiuguishable fire OF love Of free
dom In the hearts o. ourselves and OF
our fathers Will rot forsake ms. but
will accomplish Ills work In as and in
our descendants.
We have hesiJatFd 10 make this dec
Iaration earlier. Your ENcellCncy.
o. we feared that as long as the ad-
vantage was on our side and as long as
our forces held defensive positions far
in Her Majesty's colonies such a dec
lara;ion might hurt the feelings and the
honor Of the British people. But now
that the prestige Of the British Empire
may be considered to be assured by the
capture OF one OF our forces by Her
Naiestys troops and that we were
thereby forced 10 evacuate other POSI-
lions which our forces had occupied,
that difficulty Is over and We can no
longer hesitate clearly to inform your
Government and people. in the sight OF
the whole civilized world. why we are
fighting and on what conditions We are
ready to restore peace"
Lord SaIisbury's Reply.
The reply OF Lord Salisbury to the Prcsi
tents Of the South African Republic an
Orange Free Stale is dated March II, an
s as follows.
Il have the honor to acknowledge
your honors' telegram, dated March ..
from BlOemfontein. the purport OF
which Is principally demand that Her
Majesty's Government shall recognize
the inConteStable independence Of the
South African Republic and the Orange
Free State, and to offer on those terms
20 bring the war to a conclusion.
In the beginning Of October last.
peace existed between Her Majesty's
Government and the two republics
under the conventions which then were
In existence and discussion had been
proceeding for some months between
Her Majesty's Government and the
South African Republic by which the
object was to obtain redress for very
serious grievances under which the
residents I'm the South African Repub-
lies were suffering
in the course OF those negotiations
the South African Republics had to
the knowledge OF Her MaIesty's Gov
eminent made considerable ornaments
and the latter had consequently taken
steps 90 provide corresponding ra-en-
forcements 10 the British garrisOns in
Cape Colony and Natal.
no infringement Of the rights
granted by the convention had up to
that point taken place on the British
side. Suddenly. AT two days notice
the South African republics. after is
suing an insulting Ultimatum. declar-
ed war upon Her Majesty's Govern
ment. and the Orange Free State.
with whom We had not even been in
discussion. took a similar step.
Her Maicsty's dominions were in
Vaded by the two republics. siege was
laid to three towns within the British
frontier and large portions Of the two
colonies Vyprn TvorYrrn with oraaf 10
struction 10 property and life and the
republics claimed the right to treat
the inhabitants Of extensive portions
OF Her Najesjy's dCmiuions as il those
domiui0ns had been renounced TO one
or the other OF hem.
In anticipation Of these operations
the South African Republic had beeu
accommodating 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 hono-s make some observa-
tiOns az q negative character upon
the subject with which these prepa-
rations We're made. J do not think il
necessary TO discuss the Questions
you have raised, hut the result Of these
preparations which were carried on
with great secrecy has been that the
British Empire has been compelled TO
confront invasion which has entsiIed
upon the empire a costly war and the
loss OF thousands of precious lives
This great calamity has been the
penalty which Great Britain has suf-
fered for having in recent years ac-
quiescol in the existence Of the two
republics
In view Of the use 10 which the two