The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-22
Said to Have Been Captured, Then
ecuted for Breaking a Promise.
DISCREDITED IN L0NDt
GENERAL DE VETS SPEECH TO HIS
FOLLOWERS AT sENEKAL.
Outline of Recent Pence Negotiations
Philip Botha Killed I'm an
Engagement.

LONDON, March PA dispatch from
Antwerp says: "A rumor is in circulation
here which is not generally credited, to the
effect that the Beers, after capturing, then
liberating and subsequently recapturing
General French, finally executed him for
not keeping a promise not to fight against
them again" The rumor is utterly dis
credited in London.
A correspondent of the Times who Is near
Bloemfontein gives a report that General
De Wet, General Botha and two other
Boer commanders. addressing a force OF
burghers at Seneka Sunday said they
were still able to continue the war, but
were ready to accept annexation on condi
tion that the British would guarantee joint
education in Dutch ana English liberty to
retain sporting rifles on license. indemnity
tc the amount of three million pounds for
burned farms, franchise for natives and
amnesty for all belligerents still in the
field General De Wet, according to the
correspondent, has gone north to the Trans
vaal, after ordering a suspension of active
operations until his return.
The Daily Chronicle, protesting to be able
to give an outline of the negotiation be-
tween Lord Kitchener and General Botha,
says: THE chief obstacle to a settlement
was Lord Kitcheners refusal to grant COM
pete amnesty to the leaders of the rebels
in Cape Colony. He offered self-govern-
ment on the lines of Jamaica Immediately
upon the cessation of hOstilites, with leg
islative bodies partly elected by the burgh-
ers. The government agreed to provide
1000, 600 to compensate the Beers for prop
erty destroyed and articles Communicated
by the Beers on commando, provided the
signatures of the officers who comman-
deered the goods were forthcoming. He
also offered to grant loans on easy terms
for rebuilding and restocking farmsteads.
Moreover, he agreed that children should
be instructed in English or Dutch, at the
discretion of their parents. The govern
ment undertook to make no claim on church
property or funds or upon hospitals or hos
pital funds or upon private investments
No burgher of either state was to be
allowed to possess a rifle except by special
license. General Botha was generally i'm
favor of these conditions, but he dissented
strongly from a proposal to give the full
privilege of citizenship TO properly domi-
cled and registered blacks He was also
greatly concerned about the position Jewish
capitalists would occupy in the country
and was told that Jews and Christians
would enjoy equal rights no distinction be-
ing made in the matter OF concessions"
The Times, commenting on the Kitchener
Botha negotiations. says: THE event shows
that the Beers are still hopeful of some
thing turning up to their advantage 1t is
difficult otherwise to understand their re-
lection of Lord Kitchener's terms, which
the parliamentary papers on the subject
will no doubt show were lenient to the
verge of weakness"
1T is reported here" says the Amster-
dam correspondent of the Daily Mail, that
a company OF American volunteers. mostly
Bostonians. recently landed at Kobi bay
Tongaland, crossed Swaziland and Joined
Gen. Louis Botha."