The War in South Africa, Its Cause and Conduct

e to mislead continental and American opinion. I will endeavour to treat each of these subjects in turn, not in the spirit of a lawyer preparing a brief, but with

xamine how far the British are to blame for not having brought those

relieve these places. During this long period of their predominance from October 1899 to February 1900, there was no word of peace. On the contrary, every yard of British territory which was occupied was instantly annexed either by the Transvaal or by the Orange Free State. This is admitted and beyond dispute. What bec

on of the strip of coast between Durban and Delagoa Bay, with the harbours of Lucia and Kosi. The Orange Free State and the Transvaal are to be united and

sistance of the garrisons, the tenacity of the relieving forces, and the genius of Lord Roberts altered the whole situation. The Boers were driven back to the first of their cap

F THE ORANGE FREE

UBLIC TO THE MARQ

tein: Mar

which South Africa is now threatened, make it necessary for both belligerents to ask themselves dispassionately, and as in the sig

outh Africa independent of Her Majesty's Government, we consider it our duty solemnly to declare that this war was undertaken solely as a defensive measure to safeguard the threatened independence of the South African Republic, and is only continued in order to s

's Government is determined to destroy the independence of the Republics, there is nothing left to us and to our people but to persevere to the end in the course already begun, in spite of the overwhelming pre-eminence of the

the feelings of honour of the British people; but now that the prestige of the British Empire may be considered to be assured by the capture of one of our forces by Her Majesty's troops, and that we are thereby forced to evacuate other positions

rd Salisbu

ffice: Mar

incipally to demand that Her Majesty's Government shall recognise the "incontestable independence" of the South African Repub

nts, and the latter had, consequently, taken steps to provide corresponding reinforcements to the British garrisons of Cape Town and Natal. No infringement of the rights guaranteed by the Conventions had up to that point taken place on the British side. Suddenly, at two days' notice, the South African Republic, after issuing an insulting ultimatum, declared war upon Her Majesty, and the Orange Free State, with whom there had not even been any discussion, took a similar step. Her Majesty's dominions were immediately invaded by the two Republic

the result of these preparations, carried on with great secrecy, has been that the British Empire has been compelled to confront an invasion which has entailed upon the Empire a costly war an

rovoked attack has inflicted upon Her Majesty's dominions, Her Majesty's Government can only answer Your Honours' telegram by sa

faced once more with the Franchise question, the Uitlander question, the corrupt oligarchy, the anti-British conspiracy, and everything which we had spent so much blood and money to set right. The desperate situation from which the British power was only just emerging was so fresh in our minds that we could not feel justified in leaving the possibility-indeed the certainty-of its recurrence to our children. Remember, you who judge us, that we had done all this before. Once before within our own memories we had patched up an inconclusive peace, and left these people the power to hurt us. And what had c

educed it. Then, for the second time, negotiations for peace were opened on the initiative of General Botha, which led to a meeting upon February 28, 1901, between Kitchener and Botha. Kitchener had already explained that

toria: March 1,

f they agreed he should visit Orange River Colony and get them to agree. They should all then hand in their arms and finish the war. He told me that they could go on for some time, and that he was not sure of being able to bring about peace witho

home, I understood that when hostilities ceased military guard would be replaced by Crown Colony administration, consisting of nominated Executive, with elected assembly t

a rifle to protect him from native? I said I tho

that English and Dutch would, I thought, have equal rights. He ex

n seemed to be that franchise should not be given to Kaffirs until after representative go

Church property sho

assets of Republics, would also take over legal debts. This he made rather a strong point of, and he intended it t

war tax would be imposed on

would prisoner

pair burnt farms, and enable farmers to start afres

ke of Colonials who joined Republics, and he s

vernment on these points. All I said during the interview was qualified by b

ain upon the exact terms which could be given to Botha. They ended in the following offer, whi

r all burghers of the Republics. In the case of Colonial rebels, if the

ers to be at o

urn to change to representative government, as in all other free Briti

lish languages to be

ngs, should pledge itself not to specially tax them, and should pay as an act of grace one million

hers be allowed s

ave the protection of the law

nour that if the terms are not accepted after a reasonable d

evident that he did not himself consider independence vital, since he had gravely discussed terms which were based upon loss of independence.

ised my Government of Your Excellency's said letter; but, after the mutual exchange of views at our interview at Middelburg on 28th February last, it will certainly not surprise Your Excellency to know that I d

al interview with Kitchener; and we have his own authority, therefore, to show that they were not determined

on which representative institutions should come in force, but such a promise must be disingenuous, for it must evidently depend not upon a date, but upon the state of the country. The offers of loans to the farmers towards the stocking and rebuilding the farms were surely generous to

also much to be desired that the bastard taal language, which has no literature and is almost as unintelligible to a Hollander as to an Englishman, will cease to be officially recognised. These two omis

which we are fighting is our independence and our national existence?' It is evident, however, that Botha did not consider this

eneral's Camp

comply with the "Grondwet" of this Republic and otherwise, that, before any steps are taken in that direction, the condition of our country and our cause be brought

a considerable time, I should like to hear from Your Excellency whether Your Excellency is prepared to assist me in expediting this matter by allo

a, Commanda

itchener

South Africa, Pret

state that I can only deal with you and your superior officers in the field in regard to the cessation of hostilities, and

rward any telegram Your Honour desires on the subject, and let you have the reply. Should, however, Your Honour still desire to send m

ener,

ief, British Troo

continue their hopeless and fatal resistance. His reply was to the effect that there were still great hopes of a successful issue of the war, and that he had taken steps to make proper provision for the Boer prisoners and for the refugee women. These steps, and very efficient ones, too, were to leave them to the generosity of that Government which he was so fond of reviling. There are signs that something else had occurred to gi

e official att

y the British Government have been so generous that they have aroused the strongest distrust and criticism in this country, where they have seemed to be surrendering by the pen all that h

publics to continue the struggle and run the risk of total ruin as a nation, or to submit? Could we for a moment think of taking back the country, if it were offered to us, with thousands of people to be supported by a Government which has not a farthing? Put passionate feeling aside for a moment and use common-sense, and you will then agree with me that the best thing for the people and the country is to give in, to be loyal to the new Government, and to get responsible governm

hem. There are at present three strong commandos of burghers fighting upon the British side, commanded by three Boer Generals-Marais, Celliers, and the younger Cronje, all of whom had made their names in fighting against us. This fact alone goes far to dispel those stories of British barbarity with which I shall presently