Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-22
ENGLAND
WANTS NO
MEDIATION.
Good OfhCeS Of the United States De-
Clined by Great Britain.
The ANSWER TO THE BOERS.

the COrreSpOndence-lndepen'
dence of the Republic Can
not be Recognized.
London, March 13.-The United States
government, at the request of Presidents
Kruger and Steyn, has offered to the Brit
ish government its services as mediator,
with the view of bringing about peace in
South Africa.
London, March 13.-6:l5 a. m.-The
United States charge d'affairs, Henry
White, saw Lord Salisbury at the Foreign
Office this evening and received a formal
reply from the British government declin'
ing the good offices of the United States in
regard to peace. 1t is understood that
the reasons of the Premier are identical
with those already cabled to the Associated
Press.
London, March 13.-7:02 a. m.--The
interview between Mr.. White and Lord
Salisbury was very brief, the Premier con-
finipg himself to courteous verbal de-
clination, without entering into details.
sALIsBURY's ANSWER TO KRUGER.
London, March 13.-4:47 p. m.-ln the
House of Lords today the Premier, Lord
Salisbury, read the British governments
reply to Presidents Kruger and Steyn.
The concluding sentence is as follows
"Her Majesty's government can only
answer your honor's telegram by saying it
is not prepared to assent to the indepen-
dence of either the South African Repub-
lie or the Orange Free State"
BoER PREsIDENTs' MESSAGE.
London, March ia Parliamentary
paper containing the kilograms sent to the
British government by the Presidents OF
the South African Republic and the
Orange Free State, and Great Britan's
reply thereto, was issued this afternoon.
1t first gives the telegram sent by the two
Presidents to Marquis of Salisbury as fol-
lows
"Bloemfontein, March 5.-The blood
and the tears of thousands who have suf'
fered 10y this war and the prospect OF all
moral and economic ruin wherewNth South
| r.. 81,
sary for both belligerents to ask them
selves dlspassionately and as in the sight of
the Triune God, for what are they lighting,
and whether the aim of each justities all
this appalling misery and devastation.
With this Object, and in view of the asser.
lions of various British Statesmen to the
effect that this war was begun and is being
carried on with the set purpose of under
mining Her Majesty's authority ill South
Africa and of setting up an administration
over all of South Africa independent Of
Her Majesty's government, we consider 1t
our duty to solemnly declare that this war
was undertaken solely as defensive meas
ufe to maintain the threatened indepen.
dence of the South African Republic, and
is only continued in order to secure and
maintain the conteetable independence Of
both republics as sovereign international
States, and 10 obtain the assurance thai
those of Her Majesty's subjects who have
taken part with us in this war shall suffel
no harm whatever in person or property
On these conditions, but on these condi
tions alone, are we now, as in the past, de
siro1s of seeing peace re-established II
South Africa; while if Her Majesty's gov
trnment Is determined to destroy the indie
pendence of the republics, there is nothing
left to us and to our PEOPLE but to perse
we're to the end in the course already be
gun.
8 "In spite of the overwhelming pre-
eminence of the British empire we ar,
confident that that God who lighted th
3 unextinguishabe fire of love of free
dom in the hearts of ourselves and o
our fathers, will not forsake us and vii
accomplish His work in Us and in ou
descendants.
ave hesitated to make this declaration
=, earlier to your excelency, as we feare'
that as long as the advantage was al
=, ways on our side, and as long as ou
:, forces held defensive positions far with
. in Her Majesty's colonies, such a de
caration might hurt the feelings ant
honor of the British people. But not
. that the prestige of the British empir
may be considered to be assured by tn
capture of one of our forces by Her Ma
iesty s troops, and that we have there
by been forced to evacuate other pos
tions which our forces had occupied
that difficulty is over and we can n
! longer hesitate to clearly inform you
government and people, in the sight {
the whole civilized world, why we ar
fighting and on what conditions we ar
. ready to restore peace"
e LORD sALIsBURYs REPLY.
THE Marquis of Salisbury to tn
! South African Republic and the Orang
=, Free State:
!" II "Foreign Office, March Ill hav
Il the honor to acknowledge your honor
u telegram dated March 5 from Bloemfor
~ TEN, of which the purport is principal
/ to determine that Her Maiesty's govern
'e ment shall recognize the contestabl
: independence of the South African RI
NC public and Free State as sovereign il
ternational States and to offer on tho'
terms to bring the war to conclusion.
"In the beginning of October last pea'
ID existed between Her Majesty and tt
ne two republics under conventions whic
De were then in existence. discnssio