Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-03-14
BRITAIN'S DECLINATI0N
OF REPUBLICS APPEAL
Lord Salisbury Told the Boer Presidents
He Would Not Agree to Their
Independeuee.

LONDON, March 14.-Lord Salisbury
confirmed the reports that the Beers had
made overtures looking to peace by
reading in the house of lords kilograms
from Kruger and s'teyn on this subject,
sent from Bloemfontein ON March 5:
"The presidents of the Free State and
the South African republic to the Mar
quis of Salisbury;
''The blood and tears of thousands
who have suffered by this war and the
prospect that all the moral and economic
ruin with which South Africa is now
threatened make it necessary for both bel
ligerants to ask the nselves dispassion-
ately and as an insigl on the tribune of
God for what they are fighting and
whether the aim of each justifles all this
appalling misery and dt VISITATION.
with this object AID in view of the
assertion of various British statesmen to
the effect that this war was begun and II
being carried on with the set purpose of
undermining her maicsty's authority in
South Africa and es ,pHshing an admnistra-
ton over all South Africa independent of her
majesty government, we consider it our duty
soesanly to declare that this war was begun
solely as defensive measure and as safe
guard to the threatened independence of the
South African republic, and continued in order
to secure and safeguard the incontestible
independence of both republics as sovereign in
ternational states, and to obtain the assurance
that her majesty's subjects who have taken
part with us in this war shall suffer no harm
whatsoever in person or property.
"On these conditions alone are we now, as in
the past, DESTROYS of seeing peace re-estab lished
in South Africa and of putting an end to the
VIII la OIL ct1.fa
eminent is determined to destroy the indie
pendent republics nothing is left us but to per
severe to the end in the course already begun
Despite the overwhelming predominance of
the British empire, we are confident that Cod
who lighted the inextinguishable fire of love
for freedom in our heats and those of our
fathers, will not desert us, but accomplish his
work in and our descendants
1--WE hesitated to make this declaration
earlier to your excellency as we feared that as
long as the advantage was all our side and
as long as forces held the offensive posi-
tions far in her majesty's colonies, such deca-
ration might hurt the feelings of honor of the
British people, but now that the prestige of
the British empire is assured through the cap
ture of one of our forces, and we We're thereby
forced to evacuate other positions, that diff
Guilty is over and we no longer hesitate to
clearly inform your government and people i'll
sight of the whole civilized world why we arc.
fighting, what conditions we ready to ac
cept to restore peace
Salisbury 5 reply to the message of the
Boer presidents was sent on March II
and was in part as follows:
81 have the honor to acknowledge your hon.
ors' telegram. Of which the purport is princi-
pally to demand that her majesty government
shall recognize the incontcstable Independence
of the South African republic and the Orange
Free States as sovereign international states
and to offer in those terms to bring the war to
q conclusion,
Lord Salisbury reply then relates that
peace existed in October when negotiations for
redress of the grievances of British residents
were continuing during which the republics
made considerable addition to their arna
ments England, therefore had taken steps to
provide corresponding reinforeements,
Suddenly, the reply continues, ION two
days notice the South African republic, after
issuing an insulting ultimatum, declared war,
and the Orange Free State, with whom there
had been no discussion, took similar steps"
The reply said then that British colonies
were invaded three British towns besieged.
the territory overrun with consequent great
destruction Of life and property and the inhab
tants treated as if annexed to the republics
Anticipating those operations the Transvaal
eeerety accumulated enormous ornaments.
which could only be intended for use against
the British. As a result the British We're com
PEELED to confront invasion which entailed
upon the empire costly war and the loss Of
thousands of precious lives, said Salisbury
This great calamity has been the penalty
Great Britain has suffered for having in re.
cent years acquesced in the existence of the
two republics. In view of the use TO which the
republics put the position given them and the
calamities which their unprovolSed attack in
ficted upon her majestys dominions, can
only answer your honors' telegram by saying
that her majestys government is not prepared
to'assent to the independence of either the