The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-10
BOer Generals Give Joe Cham
berlain a Surprise.
Assume Role of Conquerors In.
stead of Vanquished.
HARD BARGAIN.
Colonial Secretary Shows Dis.
position to Shirk.
Beers Determined to Have All
That's Coming to Them.

London, Sept 10.-A parliamentary
paper issued today gives full report of
the recent conference between the colon
ial secretary, Joseph Chamberlain and
the Boer generals, Botha. Dewet and
Delarey. Prior to agreeing to the inter
view which the Beers asked for August
20, the colonial secretary requested list
of the subjects which it was desired to
discuss and the generals forwarded
list of subjects. including the following:
Complete amnesty to the rebels
A yearly grant to all BOer widows and
orphans and MANNED burghers.
Equal rights for the English and
Dutch languages in the schools and
courts.
That equal rights with the British be
conceded to burghers complying with
the terms of surrender, including the
right to return to South Africa.
The immediate release of all prisoners
of war.
The reinstatement of the officials of the
late South African republics or COM
pensation for their loss of office.
Compensation for all loss occasioned
by the British troops by the use, re-
moval burning or destruction by other
means of all private property.
The reinsta atement of the burghers in
the ownership of their farms confiscated
or sold under the proclamation or Au-
gust l. 1901.
Compensation for the use of the prop
critics of burghers taken by the British
authorities.
Payment of the lawful obligations of
the late South African republics, fnclud-
ing those incurred during the war
The recession of the decision to add a
portion of the Transvaal to Nata1.
Granting an extension of time for the
payment of all debts due by the burgh-
ers to the late governments of the South
African republics.
Mr.. Chamberlain, in replying, ex-
pressed great surprise at the number
aIc
out that the conditions agreed on at
Vereenigning were duly accepted by the
burghers and the British government
and that they could not be reopened,
nor could proposals rejected at the time
be again discussed. If the Interpretation
of the agreement was open to question
his majesty's government would en-
deavor to remove all doubts.
At the opening of the conference the
Boer generals disclaimed any desire to
alter the terms of surrender in any way.
| On the subject of amnesty to rebels,
General Botha expressed disappoint-
Lord Kitchener that the rebels had not
been granted amnesty at the time OF
| King Edwards coronation, in reply to
| which Mr.. Chamberlain promised that
| the imperial government would not
hinder any generous intentions of the
| governments of Natal and Cape Colony
| in regard to rebels.
| AS to the return of burghers to South
1 d.
was the governments intention to re-
| tain the right to prevent the. return OF
| disloyal persons who had not frankly
| accepted the terms of peace, instancine
former State Secretary ReitZ of the
Transvaal as case in point, and say
| ing that Mr. Reitz was using language
on the continent inconsistent with the
| declaration he had signed at Vereenig'
ing.
General Botha said he hoped that the
sins of one man would not be visited
on Others" adding: IF one man say.
| foolish things, let him suffer therefor
alone
| Mr., Chamberlain informed the gen
erals that there was no truth in the re-
port that the government intended tt
sell farms belonging to burghers- Re
garding some farms sold in the Orange
River Colony under the proclamation o.
August z, 1901, Mr.. Chamberlain prom
ised that the farms bought by the gov
ernment would be retransferred to thei
General Botha Criticised the compost
ton of the commission appointed tt
allot the grant of $15,000,000 for the pur
pose of assisting burghers and thei
families to return to their homes and TO
restocking their farms. etc, and object
ed to national scouts serving as com
missioners, but Mr.. Chamberlain main
tanned that the government must b.
true to those who supported it.
| Relative to the transfer to Natal o
part of the Transvaal, General Both;
said the burghers proposed to trel
therefrom. He lived there, but he sav
no chance of rema lining, the feeling o
the British in Natal being so strongl.
anti-Boer.
On the subject of martial law, MI
Chamberlain said it would not be con
tinued much longer.
The colonial secretary refused to rec
ognize as burgEers foreigners who ha'
been naturalized during or just befor
the war. saying they had been bribe'
ing. the burghers rights as reward 70
taking part in conflict in which the
were not concerned.
| General Botha concluded with an ap
peal for the widows and orphans, an
said he considered that the appropria
| ton of SIS, ,000. 600 was inadequate.
| Replying to this Mr.. hamber1ain com
pared Great Britain's treatment of tn
Beers with the treatment of the sout
by the north after the civil war i
Il America.
s.I would remind the general" sal
Mr.. Chamberlain, that We are actin
under similar circumstances To tax
one case in my time. 1 recoIlect yer
well the great civil war in America, an
| / appeal to that because it stands on
as a case in which more than ever be
fore, or indeed ever since the victol
the conqueror showed a magnanimou
and generous feeling to the conquered
, | There was good reason for this. becaus
| they were brothers of the same rae,
| the same religion. the same everything
| It was a civil war, but even in that cas-
the northern side. that is to say. til
victorious side. made no provision
whatever either by way of grant. per
| sion or allowance to the peopIe wh
had been wounded to the side that ha
: been conquered. They gave them the
lives and their liberty, and after a pei
| iod of ten years gave them votes. bt
did not give them any money compe1
sation But we have gone q step bt
!, | yond, that. because we have contrfbl
ted in addition TO all our own fenormol
: expenses, large sum to relieve thos
who are really destitute in our new CO