Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-22
british PEACE Terms
Parliament Given the Details Of
Negotiations Between Botha
and Kitchener.
Amnesty to Boer Soldiers Of
Transyaal and Orange River
Offered.
The independence Of Both Re.
publics. However. Denied.
Botha's Rejection.


publics. However. Denied.
Botha's Rejection.
London. March %. Parliamentary
papers giving details OF the negotiations
between the Boer commander-i in chief,
Botha, and Lord Kitchener. this morn
ing, began with telegram from Sir AL
fred Miner to Colonial Secretary Cham
berlain. The dispatch was dated Preto-
aia, Feb. %. and states that Mrs. Botha
lad returned from q meeting with her
husband. bringing a letter in reply TO
Sir Alfred Miners verbal message
offering to meet Botha as means of
ending the war on the express under
standing that he would not discuss the
question of independence of the Trans
vaal and Orange River Colony Mrs
Botha assured Sir Alfred that the letter
was written with that point clearly un-
Gerstood. Botha referred the matter to
his generals and it was stated that a
meeting would probably take place at
Middleburg.
Chamberlain replied that he was glad
to hear of Botha's desire to treat and
hoped it was genuine. He will find
u.s., said the secretary, anxious TO
meet him on all points affecting his in
Gvidual position.
A dispatch from Kitchener to the war
e.ffice, dated Pretoria, Feb. 49, reports a
long interview with Botha, who showed
very good feeling and seemed anxious
for peace. He asked for information
which he said he would submit to his
government, generals and people. II
they agreed he would visit the Orange
River Colony and get them to agree.
Should all then hand in the arms 1t
would finish the war. He said they
could go on for some time and he was
not sure that he would be able to bring
about peace without independence.
declined to discuss such point. said
Kitchener, and said a modified form of
independence would be most dang
and would lead to war in the future. Re-
plying to Botha's inquiries informed
him that when hostilities had ceased the
military would be replaced by a crown
colony administration, consisting of a
nominated executive and elected assem-
bly, to advise him, followed after pc
riod by representative government.
The Beers would be licensed to have
rifles to protect themselves against the
natives Dutch and English languages
TO have equal rights. Saffirs would not
have the franchise until after the rep-
resentative government had been
granted. The Orange Free State laws
(r>v. L ttot ha c
good; church property. public trusts
and orphans funds not to be touched;
no war tax to be imposed on the farm
ers: assistance to be given to repair
burned farms and enable the farmers to
start afresh and the colonists who had
joined the republics should be disfran-
chised. Gen. Botha generally seemed
to be satisfied with these conditions.
Among the questions to which Kitch-
ener apparently did not reply were
when the war prisoners would be re-
turned and regarding the taking over
OF the debts Of the republics. including
those legally contracted since the begin
ming OF the war.
Botha Is reported to be making a
strong point of this He referred to
notes which had been issued. amounting
er arranged to communicate Botha S
views to his government All he said
was qualified by being subject to the
ment. On March 3 Miner cabled Kitch-
ener. suggesting the following:
II beg to inform you that on the ces-
sation OF hostilities and a complete sur
render Of arms. ammunition, cannon
xs<~,e t,. ~ ~ I,o
Eurghers in the field at the government
depots or elsewhere his majesty's gov
ernment was prepared at once to grant
amnesty in the Transvaal and Orange
River Colony for all bona -fide acts OF
war during the hostilties. as well as to
move the governments of Cape Colony
and Natal TO similar action, qualifying
by disfranchisement Of any British sub
jects implicated in the war. The mill
tary prisoners in St. Helena. Ceylon and
elsewhere, on complete surrender. shall
be brought back to their country The
military law shall at once be replaced
by civil administration, but 1t is the de-
sire Of his majesty's government as
soon as circumstances will permit to es-
tablish a representative government On
the cessation OF hostilities high court,
independent OF the executive, shall be
established to administer the laws
Land, church property. trusts and or
phan funds shall be respected. The En-
glish and Dutch languages shall be
taught in the public schools and used in
the law courts. Legal debts of the state
to the amount of f1,000.000 shall be paid
over IL contracted during hostilities to
the extent that the creditor proves he
has given valuable consideration. The
government does not intend to extend
the franchise to Kaffirs in the Trans
: yaal and Orange River Colony before a
representative government is granted
The conditions regarding assistance to
farmers, firearms, ETC.. are the same as
those In Lord Kitchener's replies to Bo-
tina. Miner adds that he agrees to the
above except as to the desires for a mod
ifcation regarding British subjects in
Cape Colony and Natal in the Boer
army who, II they returned to those col
onies. would be liable to be dealt with
under the laws Of those passed TO meet
circumstances arising In war.
He adds:
while am willing to concede much
In order to strengthen Botha in !nduc-
ing the people to submit, amnesty for
the rebels is not, my opinion. point
which the government can afford td
coneeds think It would have de-