The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-03-28
THE TERMS B0TAA DECLINED,
Military Government to Be Replaced
By Crown Colony.

BY Crown Colony.
London, By Ca5le.-The parliament
ta-y Papers giving deatails Of the ne
gotia;ioTS between the Boer comman-
der-in-chief. General Botha, and Lori
Kitchener commanding the British
forces in South Africa, begin wiki a
telegram from Sir Alfred Milner 10
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain. The
dispatch is dated Pretoria, Feb. %.
and states tina; Mrs. Bc;ha mas re-
iurned from q meeting with her hus-
band bringing a letter in reply 10 Sir
Alfred Miners verbal message offer
ing to meet General Bo;ha as means
Of ending the war on the express uG-
derstanding that he would net discuss
the independence Of the Transvaal
and Orange River Colony. Mrs. Bo-
tha assured Alfred MilneT that the
letter was written with the point
clearly understood General BotAa re-
feTred the matter TO his generals and
1t was stated that the meeting would
probably take place at Mldd!ebefg'
Mr. Chamberlain replied that he vas
glad TO hear of General BOt2a's desire
to treat ard hoped that it was gelu-
inc. He will find us" said the Colo
nial Secretary. anxious 10 meet him
on all points affecting MS individual
position"
A dispatch from Lord Kitchener 10
the War Office. dated Pre,oria, Feb.
2S. reports long interview with Cen
eral Botha. who showed very good
feeling and seemed anxious for peace.
He asked for information, which ne
SAID he would submit 10 his govern
ment. the generals and the people. II
they agreed. he would visit the Grange
River Colony and get them 10 agree.
Should all then hand in their arms It
would finish the war. He said they
could 90 on for some time and he was
nc. sure he would be able to bring
about peace without independence.
Il declined 20 discuss such point,
sad Lord Kitchener. and said a mod
ifed form O: independence would be
mcst dangerous and would lead to war
in the future Replying to General Eo-
tha's inquiries. informed him that
when hostilities ceased the military
would be replaced by crown colony
administration consisting Of nonl-
mated executive and an elected assem-
bly, to advise him. followed afte- -e-
rod by a representative government.
The Roers would be licensed to have
rifles to protect themselves against
the natives. the Dutch and English
languages were 10 have equal rights.
Kafiirs would rGt have the franchise
u..il after representative government
had been granted the Orange Free
STE laws for kaffirS would be con-
Sized good. Church property public
trusts and orphan funds would not be
touched no war tax would Ue imposed
on the farmers. assistance would Ce
given to repair the burned farms and
to enable the farmers to start afresh,
and ccrnists who had joined the re-
public should not be disfranchlsed.
General Botha generally seemed salts
fed with these conditions.
On March 3. Sir Alfred Mil1er cab
led Lord Kitchener, suggesting the FOL
lowing replies 10 General BorAa: /
beg to inform YOU that c2 the cesSa-
ton of hoS:iiit:es and the complete
surrender CT arms, ammunition can
non and munitions in the hands OF the
turehers in the field at goTeEnmeat
depo.s or elsewhere. His Majestys
government is prepared q; once 70
grant amnesty n The Transv22l and
Grange Rive. Colony for ali 5o-3-hde
acts o. war during the hostlitieS. as
we'll as to move the governments O.
Cane Colony and Natal to similar ac-
lion. qualified by the disfranchisemens
o. any British subjects implicated in
the war. The military prisoners IN
ST. Helena. Ce~!on and elsewhere on
complete surrender, shall be brought
back to their country. Military law
shall at once be replaced by civil ac-
min!strat:on. but it is the desire OF
His Majesty's government as soon as
circumstar will permit TO e5tao-
lish a representative government. On
the cessation of hostili;ies a high
court independent of the executive
shall be established to administer the
laws. Land. Church property, trusts
and orphan funds shall be respected.
The English and Dutch languages
shall be taught in the public SCHOOLS
and allowed in the law court.