Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-03-15
Good O11CeS Of the United States De-
Clined by Great Britain.
The ANSWER TO THE BOERS.
Essential Part of the Premier'S Response tC
the SOulh African Presidents Read In
Parliament-Paper Issued Giving
the Correspondence
dence of the Republic Can
not be Recognized.
not be Recognized.

not be Recognized.
London. March l3.-The United States
government, at the request of Presidents
Kruger and Steyn, has offered to the Brit
sh 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 formal
reply from the British government declln'
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-
fning himself to a 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 Britain'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 SUI
fered by this war and the prospect OF all
moral and economic ruin wherewNth South
Africa is now threatened, make it neces'
sary for both bellgerents to ask them
selves dlspassionately and as in the sight OF
the Triune God, for what are they fighting,
Al. of q
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 soemnly 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 that
those of Her Majestys subjects who have
taken part with us in this war shall suffer
no harm whatever in person or property.
On these conditions, but on these condl-
tions alone, are we now, as in the past, de-
sirotis of seeing peace re-established in
South Africa; while if Her Majesty's gov
trnment is determined to destroy the inde'
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-
2 gun.
: "In spite of the overwhelming pre-
eminence of the British empire we are
confident that that God who lighted the
E unextinguishable 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 oul
descendants.
, 1--WE hesitated to make this declaration
4, earlier to your excellency, as we teareC
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 de
-, claration might hurt the feelings anC
:, honor of the British people. But nov
that the prestige of the British empir
NAV be considered to be assul ed 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 posi-
tions which our forces had occupied
that difficulty is over and we can nj
J. longer hesitate to clearly inform you
government and people, in the sight o
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:
u, u, Foreign Office, March Ill hav
III the honor to acknowledge your honor
VI telegram dated March from BlOemfon
" " tein, of which the purport is principal
u to determine that Her Maiesty's govern
ie ment shall recognize the contestant
u independence of the South African RI
dc public and Free State as sovereign il
ternational States and to offer on thos
terms to bring the war to d conclusion.
''In the beginning of October last peaC
nd existed between Her Majesty and tn
he two republics under conventions whc
oe were then in existence. discnssio
ct- had been proceeding for some montl