The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-16
AMNESTY TO ALL REBELS
Also Ask for Yearly Grant for 6oer
Widows and Manned
surshers.

the COlOuldl ScCISIdIy, oO0OFA
berlain, and the Boer generals, Botha, :
Dewet and Delarey. Prior to agreeing I
to the interview which the Beers ask :
ed for August 20, the colonial secre- :
tary requested a list Of subjects which :
1t was desired to discuss and b gen
erals forwarded a list including the ;
following:
Complete amnesty to the rebels
A YEARLY grant to all Boer widows
and orphans and manned burgners.
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 Ct surrender, includ-
ing the right to return to South Afri-
ca.
The immediate release of all pris-
oners Of war.
The reinstatement OF the officials OF
the late South African republics Or
compensation for their less OF Of
flee. ~ 4ss N
Compensation for all loss occasion
ed by, the British troops by the use,
removal, burning or distinctions by
other means Of private property.
Reinstatement Of the burghers in
their property c%onfiscated or sold I'M
der the proclamation of August ~
1901.
Compensation for the use OF the
properties of burghers taken by the
British authorities.
PAYMENT of the lawful obligations
of the late South African republics,
including those incurred during the
war.
The resembling of the decision to
add a portion of T%ransyaal to Natal.
Granting an extension of time for
the payment of all debts due by the
burghers to the late governments OF
the South African republics.
sl.3 Mr.. Chamberlain, in replying, ex-
pressed great surprise at the number
and character Of the proposals, point
ing out that the conditions agreed on
at Vereeningen were duly accepted
by the burghers and the British gov
eminent and that they could not be
reopened, or could proposals rejected
at that time be again discussed. II
the Interpretation of the agreement
was open sto question, his majestys
government would endeavor to re-
remove ali doubts.
At the opening of the conference
the Boere generals disclaimed any De
sire to alter the terms Of surrender
many way.
On the subject Of amnesty for tag
rebels General Botha expressed ms
disappointment that after h promise
given by Lord Kitchener, the rebel:
had not been granted amnesty at tn
time of King Edwards coronation, II
reply to which Mr.. Chamberlain prom
ised that the imperial government
would net hinder any generous IN
tentions Of the governments officer
in Natal and Cape Colony inHregar'
to rebels. y u.
AS to the return of burghers t
South Africa, the colonial secretar
declared it was the governments II
tention to retain the right to proven
the return Of disloyal burghers VIII
had not honestly accepted the term
of peace, instancing former State Sc
retary Reitz of the Transvaal, as
case in point, and saying that N
Reitz was using language on the col
tinent inconsistent with the declar'
ton he had signed at Vereeningel
General Botha said that he hope
the .,sins of one nan would not /
visited on Others" adding: If or
man says foolish things, let him su
fer therefor alone"
On the SUBJECTED martial law, M
Chamberlain said il" would not be co
tinued much longer.
General Botha concluded with {
appeal for the widows I'M rpm
and said he considered that the 9
preparation of $15,00O,00 was mad
quate.
Replying to this Mr.. Chamberla
compared Great. Britain's tfeatme
of the Beers with the treatment
the South by the North after the CT,
war in America
81 appeal to that" said Mr.. Cha
berlain, because that stands out as
case in which nor than ever befc
or. indeed, ever since, the victor, t
conqueror showed a magnanimo
and generous feeling to the conquer
There was good reason for this
cause they were brothers Of the sal
race, the same religion, the same