Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-10
THE BOER REQUESTS
Discussed at Recent Confer
ence in London.
OLD ISSUES REVIVED
CHAMBERLAIN SURPRISED AT
THE PROPOSALS.
A Parliamentary Paper Issued Today
Gives an Account Of the
Meeting.

Delarey. Prior to agreeing to the inter
| view which the Beers asked for August
20. the colonial secretary requested a 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.
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 compensa-
| ton for their loss of Office.
Compensation for War Losses.
| Compensation for all loss occasioned by
the British troops by the use, removal.
| burning or destruction by other means Of
| all private property.
| The reinstatement Of the burghers in
the ownership of their farms confiscated or
sold under the proclamation Of August T..
| 1901.
Compensation for the use of the proper
ties Of the burghers taken by the British
authorities.
Payment of the lawful obligations of the
late South African republics, including those
incurred during the war.
The recession Of the decision to add a
portion of the Transvaal to Natal
Granting an extension Of time for the
payment of all debts due by the burghers
to the late governments of the South Afri-
can republics.
Mr.. Chamberlain Surprised.
Mr.. Chamberlain. in replying, expressed
of no ,bar nd ohor tar
of the proposals, pointing out that the con-
ditions agreed on at Vereeniging were duly
accepted by the burghers and the British
government and that they could not be re-
opened nor could proposals rejected at that
time be again discussed. If the interpreta-
ton of the agreement was open to question
his majesty's government would endeavor
to remove all doubts.
AT the opening of the conference the Bocr
generals disclaimed any desire to alter the
terms of surrender in any way. On the sub
ject of amnesty to rebels General Botha eX-
pressed disappointment that, after the
promise given by Lord Kitchener, 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
Africa, the colonial secretary declared
was the governments intention to retain
the right to prevent the return of disloyal
persons who had not frankly accepted the
terms of peace, inStancing former State
Secretary Reitz of the Transvaal a case
in point, and saying that Mr.. Reitz was
ing language on the continent inconsistent
with the declaration he had signed at We
| reeniging.
Gen. Botha's Views.
General Botha said he hoped that the
''sins of one man would not be visited on
Others" adding:
IF one man says foolish things let him
suffer therefor alone"
Mr.. Chamberlain informed the generals
that there was no truth In the report that
the government intended to sell farms be-
longing to burghers. Regarding some farms
sold in the Orange River Colony under the
proclamation of August T. 1901, Mr.. Cham
berlain promised that the farms bought by
the government would be retransferred to
their former owners.
General Botha criticised the composition
Of the commission appointed to allot the
grant of SIS 200 600 for the purpose of as
sisting burghers and their families to re-
turn to their homes and for restocking their
farms, ETC., and objected to national scouts
serving as commissioners, but Mr.. Cham
berlain maintained that the government
must be true to those who supported 1t.
Relative to the transfer to Natal Of part
of the Transvaal, General Botha said the
DuTSH6TS proposed trek tnere1rOm. He
lived there, but he saw chance of re-
naming, the feeling Of the British in Natal
being strongly anti-Boer.
On the subject of martial law, Mr.. Cham
berlain said 1t would not be continued
much longer.
The colonial secretary refused to recog-
nize as burghers foreigners who had been
naturalized during or just before the war,
saying they had been bribed by the re soiu-
ton Of the volksraad giving them burghers'
rights a reward for taking part in a
conflict in which they were not concerned.
Appeal for Widows and Orphans.
General Botha concluded with an appeal
for the widows and orphans, and said he
considered that the appropriation of $15-
100000 was inadequate.
Replying to this, Mr.. Chamberlain COM
pared Great Britains treatment of the
Beers with the treatment Of the south by
the north after the civil war in America.
II would remind the general" said Mr..
Chamberlain, that we have undertaken al
ready more obligations than have ever be-
fore been undertaken under similar crcum-
stances. To take one case in my time, I
recollect very well the great civil war in
America, and l appeal to that because that
stands out as a case in which more than
ever before, or indeed ever since the vic
tor, the conqueror, showed magnanimous
and generous feeling to the conquered.
There was good reason for this, because
they were brothers Of the same race, the
same religion. the same everything. 1t was
civil war. but even in that case the north
ern side. that Is to say the victorious side
made nc provision whatever either by way
of grant. pension or allowance to the people
who had been wounded. to the side that had
been conquered They gave them their
lives and their liberties. and after a period
of ten years gave them votes, but did not
give them any money compensation. But
we have gone step beyond that because
we have contributed in addition to all our
own enormous expenses a very large sum
to relieve those who are really destitute in
our new colonies. We have done more than
l think was expected, and we have done all
that we can afford to do and 1 think II
would be undesirable for the generals to
press any further in this matter, either
now or in writing
To Forget and Forgive
Proceeding, Mr.. Chamberlain reciprocated
the desire expressed by Gen. Botha that
they should all live in peace in future in
South Africa.
1--WE want in this country said the colo
NAL secretary, ito forget and forgive be-
cause If you think as you we'll may that
you have something to forgive we also
iply hox doaJ u,