New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-06-07
THE TERMS OF PEACE.

the terms npon which the Beers
have agreed to lay down their
arms. The vital point of independ-
ence is, of course. not mentioned
in the terms, as the overthrow OF
the republics is accepted as ''fait ac-
compli' The terms agreed upon
are as follows:
1.-The burgher forces lay down
their arms and hand over all their
rifles, guns and ammunition of
war in their possession or under
their control, and acknowledge
King Edward as their lawful
sovereign.
"All prisoners are to be brought
back so soon as possible to South
Africa without loss of liberty or
property.
"No action to be taken against
prisoners, except where they are
guilty of breaches of the rules of
war.
Clutch is to be taught in the
schools, if desired by the parents,
and used in the courts if necessary.
Critics are allowed for protec-
ton.
"Mllitary occupation is to be
withdrawn as soon as possible and
self-government substituted.
"There is to be no tax on the
Transvaal to pay the cost of the
war. The sum of f3, 100000 is to
be provided for restocking the
BOer's farms.
"Rebels are liable to trial, ac-
cOrding to the law of the colony to
which they belong. The rank and
file will be disfranchised for life.
The death penalty will not be in
fiicted."
These terms follow closely the
lines laid down in the various fore
casts of the probable peace arrange
ments, and, the one question of in
dependence aside, they are as
liberal as could possibly be ex-
pected. The terms very closely re-
semble those offered to General
Botha about year ago, with the
exception that the use Of the Dutch
language is further concession,
while the $15,O0O,000 to be set
aside for restocking Boer farms is
a larger grant than was at that time
proposed. The permission to re-
tain personal weapons is also con-
cession not originally contem-
plated. In word, it certainly ap-
pears that the Beers have gained
by protracting the war, and GER
tainly they have added materially
to the cost which the British tax
payers have had to pay.
One of the important terms in
the peace arrangement is the fact
that no tax will be placed on the
Transvaal in payment for the cost
of the war, the surrender of inde-
pendence being considered a suffi-
cient equivalent. While this con-
cession is of importance to the
burghers, it is of infinitely more
consequence to the holders of min
ing shares and other concessions
III South Africa, as it relieves them
from the payment of large amounts
which it was for long time feared
they would have to pay. In a
word the gold fields are>not to be
saddled with the cost of the war.
A concession which the Beers
did not secure was general amnesty
for the Cape rebels. According to
the terms of the compact, rebels
may be tried according to the laws
of their respective colonies, and
all the rank and file are to be dis
franchised for life. The death
penalty is not to be imposed, how
ever.
This is more important matter
than it looks, as the disfranchise-
ment Of the rebels practically as
sures the political ascendency of
the English element in Cape Colony
and the subordination of the
Afrikander element.
On the whole, the terms are rea-
sonable, and even generous, and if
the agreements lived up to in
good faith by the British Govern
ment there is no reason why it
should not lead to lasting in peace
in South Africa. There will, of
course, be some bitterness at first,
and possibly some friction, but
that will wear away with time.
| There are people who believe that
peace will be shortlived, and that
the Beers will soon make another
attempt to achieve independence.
Such people forget that it will take
a long time for the burghers to re-
cover from the losses Of the war,
and that as soon as peace is as
sured there Will be an Influx Of i'm
migration from Europe and else