Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1881-03-19 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

IMPORTANT INTERVIEW WITH THE BOER OOMMAN DANT. The Daily NMI special correspondent, dating from Mount Prospect on the 11th inst., sayer I have had an interview with Mr. Joabort outode the Boer camp. He freely declared his views on the subject of the Transvaal. Mr. Joubert blamed Sir T. shepetone for baying consistently inisreprinented and falsifi d the condition of things in the Transvaal before the annexation, and said that the Colonial Government turned a deaf ear to all proofs of the time state of things. the annexation the Boers had never been recognised in their own country. They had been trodden down beneath a military despotism. Sir Garnet NV olsetcyhe blamed felt disregarding public, feeling, and etre:Reg falitsatetwents of the sane borne in spite of the protests of MC Jonbeet, who asked for public meetings, in or" . allowed to get at the feeling of the Boers _ .cting , annexation. He was told that no seditious meetings avoutd be allowed. Mr. Joubert was sure that had his ' advice been followed by Sir Garnet Wobeley, pubic meetings held, and resolutions passed', the English Government would not have persisted in the annexation. Since the a-- mitten took place the Boers bid made every effor, . get a hearing of the truestate of matters. They sea. leputations to England, but were throughout dissredAed. No proofs would induce the EnglishGovernmeet to give credence to any but the false statements of the governing officers. After great patience and constitutional ofTSation, the Boors took up arms and proclaimed their independence, feeling then confident that when the British saw bow universally this was desired, they would permit it: without bloodshed. A body of Boers were sent to Potchefstroom to print a proclamation and instructed to be quite peaceful ; but to get the proclamation printed and return to Mr. Joubert. At Potchefstroom these men were fired on by the English troops, by order of Sir William Lanyon. although letters had been sent to every town, and to Sir William Lanyon announcing their pacific intentions. The firing on the Boers at Potchefstroom Mr. Joubert considered a declaration of war. Messages to that effect were sent to all the troops on the roads and to all the towns by postcart, and a party was also sent to meet Colonel Anstruther and the 94th, instructed carefully lobe peaceful and deliver his letter, explaining to the troops that war had been proclaimed, in case they had not heard it already, and that they must return. Mr. Joub-rt said he could not allow tie troops to concentrate in every town against him. He declared that his instructions were carried out. The troops, when met, were handed papers explaining that they were requested to return with their arms and colours, and not persist in their journey. The officer refusing, was given ten minutes to consider. Then, after his refusal, ten more minutes to prepare. Then, on the flag of trace being lowered, firing commenced. Mr. Joubert declared that if Bronker's Spruit was a massacre, or an unfair fight, then he alone was responsible. The Lambertand Elliott affair he.declared a murder, and said he was most anxious to bring the delinquents to justice. Mr. Joubert declared that the universal feeling in the Transvaal at present was the desire to 'm free, He agreed to the English flag Icing hoisted if required once yearly, and to an English residential political officer being placed with the Transvaal Government ; the English officer to • legislate on all native questions; all land and frontier questions to be referred to the English Colonial Government. The Independent Transvaal people al such would assist the general welfare of the whole of South Africa, and would be ready to meet the English Government in every proposition, except that of being annexed. Should any scheme for a confederation be proposed the Transvaal Republic would be quite ready to join in it, if it were tae general desire and agreement of all the other South African Colonies.