Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-22
AMNESTY FOR
ALL ACTS OF WAR
TERMS THAT BRITAIN OFFERED
THE BOERS.
WOULD SET PRISONERS FREE
PAY A MILLION POUNDS OF STATE
DEBTS-KAFFIRS TO BE
KEPT DOWN.

1-OHuOuI, VndTCu Zl-lu the papers la1O
before parliament concerning the peace
terms offered the Beers, among the ques-
tons which Lord Kitchener apparently
did not reply to were when the war pris-
oners would return and regarding the
taking over Of debts of the republics, in
Guiding those legally contracted since the
beginning of the war.
General Botha was reported to be maxi
ing "a strong point of this. He referred to
the notes which had been issued,
amounting to less than a million pounds.
Lord Kitchener arranged to communi-
cate Botha's views to his government.
All that he said was that it was qualified
by being subject to confirmation from
the home government.
On March g. Sir Alfred Milner cabled
Lord Kitchener suggesting the following
reply to General Botha:
Il beg to inform you that ON the ces-
satiOn OF hostilitieS and the complete sur
render of arms, ammunition, cannon and
munitions in the hands of the burghers
in the field at government depots or
elsewhere his majesty's government Is
prepared at once to grant amnesty in the
Transvaal and Orange River Colony for
an bona fide acts Of war during the hos
tiMties, as we'll as move the governments
tion qualified by the Acknowledgement Of
amy British subjects implicated. The
military prisoners in St. Helena, Criton
and elsewhere ON complete surrender,
shah be brought back to their country.
Military law shall at once be replaced by
a civil admints tration, but 1t is the desire
OF his majeSty's government as soon as
circumstances will permit to establish
representative government. On the ces-
sation of hostilities, high court, inde-
pendent Of the executive, shall be estab-
lished to administer the laws. Land,
church property, trusts and orphan funds
shall be respected. The English and
Dutch languages shall he taught in the
public schools and used in the law
courts"
The legal debts of the state to the
amount of G1,0O0,000 sterling shall be
paid, even if contracted during hostilities
to the extent a creditor proves he has
given value. The government does not
intend to extend the franchise to Kaffirs
in the Transvaal and Orange River Col
o1ly before a representative government
is granted
The conditions regarding assistance to
the farmers, firearms, ETC., are the same
as those in Lord Kitcheners replies TO
General Botha.
Sir Alfred Miner adds that he agrees
to the above except as to the desires for
modification regarding British subjects
in Cape Colony and Natal in the Boer
army, who, If they returned to those
colonies, would be liable to be dealt with
under the laws Of those colonies passed
to meet conditions existing in war; He
adds:
while I am willing to concede much
in orIo To ctr OFT ~,
inducing the people to submit amnesty
for the rebels, it is not, in my opinion,
| point which his majestys government
can afford to cOncede. I think it would
have a deplorable effect on Cape Colony
and Natal to obtain peace by such =
concession"
Mr.. Chamberlain. in a reply dated
| March 6, directs Lord Kitchener to mod
! ify the terms on number Of points.
| Eventually Lord Kitchener reported to
| the war Office, under date of Pretoria,
March 20, that he had written General
Botha the terms the government was
prepared to adopt. These We're the same
as already given, except in. the following
| particulars:
The government cannot undertake any
| liabilities regarding the debts of the lat.
| republics, but is prepared, as an act Of
grace, to set aside G1,000,000 to repay
the inhabitants for goods requisitioned
by the republican governments. If tie
claims after adjustment. exceed f1,000,-
900 sterling. they are liable to reduction
pro rata. The Kafiirs shall be so limited
as to secure a just predominance of the
white race. The legal position of the col
ored inhabitants will be similar to that
now held by them in Cape Colony.
In the house of commons today the
colonial secretary, Mr.. Chamberlain, in
| formed Mr.. Trevelyn, liberal. that he
was unable to inform the house what