The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-10
THE APPEAL,
OF THE BOERS
A Parliamentary Paper Gives a
Report of the Recent
i Conference. 81
The Beers Asked a Great Deal That
/ Was Not Conceded in the
Treaty.
Mr.. Chamberlain Compares Their
Treatment With That of the
American Confederates.

London, Sept. 10.-A parliamentary pa
per issued to-day gives full report of the
recent conference between the colonial
secretary. Joseph Chamberlain, and the
Boer generals. Botha, De Wet and De-
larey Prior to agreeing to the interview
which the Beers asked for Aug. 80 the CO
. lonial secretary requested list Of the
subjects which it was desired to discuss
and the generals forwarded 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 Ian
suages In the schools and courts.
That equal rights with the British be conceded
to burghers complying with the terms OF sur
render. 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 compensation for
their loss of Office.
Compensation for all loss occasioned by the
British troops by the use, removal. burning or
destruction by other means of all private prop
erty.
The reinstatement of the burghers in the own
ership of their farms conlscated or sold under
the proclamation of Aug. 7. 1901. -
Compensation for the of properties of
hurghers taken by the British authorities
Payment of the lawful obligations of the late
South African republics including those incurred
during the
The recession of the portion of the Transvaal
to Natal
Granting an extension of time for payment
Of all debts due by the burghers to the late
government of the South African republics.
Mr.. Chamberlain, in replying, expressed
great surprise at the number and charac-
ter Of the proposals, pointing out that the
conditions agreed on at Vereenining were
duly accepted by the burghers and the
British government and that they could
not be re-opened nor could proposals re-
5ected at that time be again discussed.
On the subject of martial law, Mr.
bowl to- = ~ 1>o
ued much longer.
General Botha made an appeal for the
widows and orphans and said he consid-
cred that the appropriation Of SIS, 900 GOO
was Inadequate.
Replying to this, Mr.. Chamberlain COM
pared Great Britain's 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
already mere obligations than have ever
before been undertaken under similar cir
cumstances. To take one case. In my
time I recollect very we'll the great civil
war in America and 1 appeal to that be-
cause that stands out as a case in which
the conqueror showed a nagnanimous and
generous telling 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 a
CIVIL war, Out even IN lHaC case the HOElll
ern side, that is to say the victorious side
made no 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 period of years gave them votes
but did not give them any money com
pensation But we have gone a step be-
yond that, because we have contributed
in addition to all our own enormous ex.
penses very large sum to relieve those
who are really destitute in our new colo
MES. We have done more than th1ni
was expected and we have done all tina
we can afford to do, and think it would
be undesirable for the generals to pres!
us any further in this matter, either nov
or in writing"
Proceeding, Mr.. Chamberlain recipro
Gated the desire expressed by Genera
Botha that they should all live in peac
I'M future in South Africa.
1--WE want this country said the CO
Ionial secretary, Ito forget and forgive
because, If you think, as you we'll may
that you have something to forgive, w
think we have a great deal to forgive
Bue we want to put that all on one side
The war Is over. We each fought as We
"a we knew how and now there Is peace
All we want is to recognize YOU as fello7
subjects with ourselves, working as W
shall work for the prosperity and libelt
of South Africa. How great that l1bert
Sc and how soon complete self governmen
will be extended to South Africa depend
entirely on the rapidity with which tn
old animosities die out
Mr. Chamberlain concluded with sayin
that the government would be glad of tn
cooperation Of men like the generals
who had loyalty accepted the new s1tua
ton. AS they wanted South Africa to
g happy abiding place for all, he felt SUI
that If the burghers met the British ha
way they would find them quite as goo
friends in the future as they had bee
loyal enemies in the past.