The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-14
OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The Republics Appeal and the British
Governments Reply.


Governments Reply.
LONDON, March 13.-A parliamentary
paper containing the telegram sent to the
British government by the presidents of
the South African Republic and the
Orange Free State and Great Britain's re-
ply thereto, was issued this afternoon.
1t first gives the telegram sent by the two
powers 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 ruin wherewith South Africa
is now threatened, make 1t necessary for
both belligerents to ask themselves dis
passionately and as In the sight of the
triune God for what are they fighting, and
whether the aim of each tustifies all this
appalling misery and devastation.
with this object and in view of the as
sertions of various British statesmen to
the effect that this war was begun and is
being carried on with the set purpose of
undermining her Majesty's authority in
South Africa and of setting up an admin
istration over all Of South Africa indepen-
dent Of her Majesty's government, we con-
slider 1t our duty to solemnly declare that
this war was undertaken solely as a de-
fensive measure to maintain the threatened
independence of the South African Repub-
lie and is only continued I'm order to secure
and maintain the incontestable indepen-
dence of both republics as sovereign inter-
national states and to obtain the aSsur-
ance that those of her MaJesty's subjects
who have taken part with us In this war
shall suffer no harm whatever in person
or property.
ION these conditions, but on these con-
ditions alone, are We now, as In the past,
desirous of seeing peace re-established in
south Africa; while, If her Majesty's gov
ernment is determined to destroy the in
dependence Of the republics there is MOTH
~ md
persevere to the end in the course already
begun. In spite of the overwhelming pre-
eminence Of British empire, we are con-
fident that that God who lighted the un-
extinguishabie fires of love OF freedom
In the hearts of ourselves and of our
fathers. will not forsake US and will ac-
complish his work in us and our descend
ants.
I'VE hesitated to make this declaration
earlier to your excellency, as we feared
that as long as the advantage was always
on our side, and as long as our forces held
uefenSive positions far within her MajeStys
colonies, such a declaration might hurt the
feelings and 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
Majesty's troops, and that we have there
by been forced to evactuate other posi-
tions which our forces had occupied. that
uifhculty Is over and we can no longer
hesitate to clearly inform your government
and people in sight of the whole civilized
world, why We are fighting and on what
conditions we are ready to restore peace"
SALISBURY'S REPLY.
The Marquis OF Salisbury to the presi-
dents Of the South African Republic and the
Orange Free State:
81 oreign Office, March III have the
honor TO acknowledge your honers' tele-
gram, dated March 5. from Bloemfontein
OF which the purport is principally to de-
mand that her Majesty's government shall
recognize the incontestable Independence
or the South African Republic and Free
state as sovereign international states
and to offer on those terms to bring the
war to q conclusion.
In the beginning of October last peace
existed between her Majesty and the two
republics under conventions which were
then in existence. A decision had been
pending for some months between her
Ma1estyS government and the South Af-
rican Republic of which the object was to
obtain redress for certain very serious
| grievances 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
or her Majesty's government, made con-
siderable armaments, and the latter had
| consequently taken steps to provide cor
responding reinforcements of the British
| garrisons at Cape Town and in Natal. No
| infringement OF the rights guaranteed
| by the convention had up to that point
! taken place on the British side Suddenly
| at two days notice, the South African Re-
public, after issuing insulting ulti-
matum, declared war upon her Majesty
| and the Orange Free State with whom
| there had not even been any discussion
| took similar step. Her Majesty's domin-
ions were Immediately invaded by the two
republics. Siege was laid TO three towns
/ within the British frontier, a large portion
/ of two colonies was overrun. with great
| destruction of property and life, and the
| republics claimed 10 treat the inhabitants
4 r<E eds ~E
| minions IL those dominions had been an
nexed 10 one or the other of them. In an
| ticipation OF these operations the South
| African Republic had been accommodating
| for many years past military stores on an
enormous scale. which. by their charac-
1 ter. could only have been intended for use
| against Great Britain.
| "Your Honors make some observations of
/ negative character upon the subject with
which these preparations were made. I do
| not think ii necessary TO discuss the ques-
tions you have raised. But the result of
these preparations, carried on with great
| secrecy. has been that the British Empire
! has been compelled to confront an invasion
i which has entailed upon the empire a cost
/ ly war and the loss of thousands OF
/ precious lives. This great calamity has
been the penalty Great Britain has suffered
| for having of recent years acquiesced 10
| the existence of two republics. In view of
| the use TO which the two republics have
| put the position which was given them and
| the CalamltfeS tney, through unprONOked
attacks, have inflicted on her Majestys do
minions, her Majesty's government can
| only answer your Honors' telegram by say
| ing that they are not prepared to assent
10 the independence either of the South
| African Republic the Orange Free
| State"
The telegram and reply were read In both
houses OF Parliament this afternoon. Henry
Labouchere. advanced Liberal protested
against Lord Salisbury's reply to President
Kruger and President Steyn. IL was. he
said not only crime. but a blunder. The
terms OF peace proposed were an iniquity
and disgrace TO Great Britain. Turkey,
he declared. might just we'll have In
sisted upon blotting out Greece as an inde-
pendent country. Greece insulted Turkey
and compelled her to go to war.
Thomas Gibson Bowles. Conservative
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