The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23

KRUGER
resentation OF the people with her Ma jesty Us
Government. how on the part Of her
NaJesty's Government the friendly nature
OF those discussions had assumed a more
and more threatening tone: how her
MIA jesty's Government had finally broken
of all friendly correspondence on the
subject how the republic was still watt
ing for the proposal which the British
Government had promised to make for a
| final settlement. how, In view of the British
| military force on the frontiers, the republic
| had been obliged. a. a defensive measure
| 10 send portion of the burghers to protect
| the frontiers; how the unlawful interven-
| ton of her Majesty's Government in the
affairs of the republic, in conflict with the
| London convention Of 1884, had caused
| an intolerable condition OF affairs TO arise
| to which the Government felt itself Obliged,
| in the interest not only of the republic,
but of all South Africa. to make an end as
soon a. possible. and therefore felt itself
| called upon and obliged to press earnestly
and with emphasis for an immediate ter
mination of this state Of things and to re-
quest her Majestys Government TO give
| II these assurances:
"tal That all POINTS Of mutual difference
| shnll be regulated by the friendly course OF
arbitration. or by whatcver amicable way
Wit" her be Mates "sVG SS is '0'''n'"
"tb) That the troops on the borders OF
this republic shall BE- Instantly withdraw n.
which have arrived IN South Africa since
the lst OF June; 1899, shall be removed Wit n
ro9sonahlS time; to be ,S eTreed upon with
/ ance and guarantee on the part OF this Gov
eminent that no attack upon or host tiles
British CO. s, shall BE- made by The
republic during further RESOLUTIONS, within
| period OF time TO be subsequently, agreed
upon between the Governments. and this Gov
eminent Will, on compliance herewith. he
prepared 70 withdraw the armed burshers Of
'' '9TH h%t ha ron .H Ss,gs troops which
now on the high seas shall not be landed in
any port OF South Africa
The despatch ended by requesting her
| before or upon Wednesday. the nth Of
| October, not later than s O'Clock p. NJ.
| adding that In the event Of no satisfactory
answer being received within that interval
| the republic would with great regret be
compelled to regard the action Of her
Ma jes,y's Government AZ formal dec
laration OF war and would not hold itself
| res ponsible for the CONSEQUENCES thereof,
| and that in the event Of any furth move
| ments Of troops taking place within the
abo mentioned time In the nearer dirAc-
| tons of the borders of the republic, the
| Government would be compelled to regard
that also as formal declaration Of war.
CONDITIONS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCUSS.
| "On the nth of October Mr.. Greene
brought the reply of the British Govern
ment, TO the effect that the conditions de-
| handed by the Cover ment Of the South
| African Republic were such as her Majesty's
| Government deemed IL impossible to dis
| cuss At the same time he asked for his
passports, in order to enable him to leave
the country And So In spite Of all the
concef siors, all the patience and indulgence
Of the republic, the war broke out.
| The Volksraad, which was still sitting,
ad iourned when II became evident that
hos,ilities were soon TO begin; both our
! Volksraad and that Of the Orange Free
| State unanimously declared themselves
ready TO risk their lives and properties for
their rights and for their liberty: and both
| repeated this vow in their last session
during the turmoil Of war.
| THE course and the vicssitudes Of the
war do not come within the scope of these
memoirs. since took no personal part in
the fighting had dnerent, work before
me. which Kept me employed day and night
| All looked to me for advice, hints and con-
! ISOLATION. Daily ] sent of kilograms to all
| the commands, encoura ging, advising and
exhorting the burghers. These abors
fully occupied the mornings from to IL
| and the evenings from 2 to 4 or O'Clock
| Not till then did l leave the Government
| buildings.
at II to go through the kilograms that
had come to hand. ! rose once more at
2, to inspect any dispatches that had ar
| rived in the meantime and 1t was often
| O'Clock fore ! could seek my rest again.
| In the later stage Of the war, when tho
Federal troops were being driven back on
| every side, my sleep was interrupted regu-
| larly three times every night and frequently
| as often as four times, in order that might
| deal with the kilograms without delay.
| ! was thankful for every success and did
not lose courage when reyerses were an
| nounced. ~ many Of my kilograms could
| show. had they not been scattered to the
winds.
HIS VISIT TO NATAL.
After the relief Of Ladysmith | went
myself to Natal to exhort the burghers
| to keep courage. At Glencoe. where the
| burghers had once more taken up their
| position. | addressed them in a long speech,
| pointing out the urgency Of keeping up the
| hight. Gen. Joubert spoke to them to the
| same effect
Il had scarcely returned to Pretoria,
when l went to Bloemfontein in order