Part 30 (1/2)
Thereupon the Representatives of the British Government inquired what the proposals of the Delegates at Vereeniging were, and the letter prepared by the commission was read as follows:--
TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES LORD KITCHENER AND LORD MILNER, PRETORIA.
”PRETORIA, _19th May 1902_.
YOUR EXCELLENCIES,--With the object of finally putting an end to the existing hostilities, we have the honour, by virtue of the authority granted us by the Governments of both Republics, to propose the following points as a basis of negotiations over and above the points already offered in the negotiations of April last:--
(_a_) We are prepared to relinquish our independence as regards foreign relations.h.i.+ps.
(_b_) We wish to retain internal self-government under a British protectorate.
(_c_) We are prepared to surrender a portion of our territory.
If your Excellencies are prepared to negotiate upon this basis, the above-named points can be further discussed in detail.
We have the honour to be, your Excellencies' obedient servants,
LOUIS BOTHA.
C. R. DE WET.
J. H. DE LA REY.
J. B. M. HERTZOG.
J. C. s.m.u.tS.”
In this letter, then, the commission laid before the British Government the wish of the Delegates. How little, indeed, it was that the People desired!--a Limited Independence! They wished to retain their own flag, and were prepared to make, besides what they had already given in blood and treasure, other sacrifices for it, and that by agreeing thenceforth to signify nothing in the outside world, surrendering all relations with other powers; also, even in regard to their internal government, to have their wings clipped by submitting to the protectorate of England, and to become yet smaller than they were by surrendering a portion of their already small territory.
All that they wished for was to be independent, even if it were only partly so.
It was in vain!
First Lord Kitchener then Lord Milner said that the difference between what the People desired and what the British Government had proposed was too great; and when the commission replied that there was no distinction in principle, that they would actually be independent no longer if England agreed to the little that was asked, they were curtly answered that it could not be. The States had completely to surrender their independent existence!
And thereupon the Representatives of the British Government refused to discuss the proposal any further. They refused even to telegraph it to England, declaring that they were certain it would not be agreed to there, and that it might injure the cause of the Boers.
What was the commission now to do? Return to the Delegates and inform them that England would not grant what they desired? No! they had authority to negotiate on _any_ subject that would lead to the desired peace, and they would now negotiate further, and see what England's intention was. They therefore asked what terms England was prepared to give in case the States surrendered.
In the afternoon the following preamble was read as an answer to this question:--
”The undersigned leaders of the burgher forces in the field, accepting on their own behalf and that of the said burghers the annexation proclaimed by Lord Roberts, and dated respectively on the 24th May in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred, and No. 15 dated on the first day of September in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred, and accepting as a consequence thereof their status as British subjects, agree immediately to lay down their arms, surrendering all cannon, guns, and munitions of war in their possession, or under their control, and to cease from all further opposition against the authority of H.M. King Edward VII., or his successors. They do this, relying on the a.s.surance of H.M. Government that they and the burghers surrendering together with them shall not be deprived of their personal liberty or of their property, and that the future actions of H.M. Government with regard to the consequences of the war shall be consistent with the declaration here-under set forth. It is clearly understood that all burghers who are now prisoners-of-war, in order to share in the enjoyment of said a.s.surance, shall declare their acceptance of the status of British subjects.”
”Must we understand,” asked General L. Botha, when Lord Milner had read this doc.u.ment,--”must we understand that our proposal is rejected entirely?”
Both Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner replied, ”Yes!”
It was plain to everyone in that room who heard that answer, that we were regarded as having been conquered--completely conquered.
It was now indicated that something in the spirit of the Middleburg proposal would follow upon the preamble that had been read there, and that the exact contents and form of it would have to be agreed upon. The commission began by taking exception to the preamble, as well as to the proposal itself, and explained their objections.