THE BOERS AND PRIVATEERING.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 231, 8 October 1901, Page 1

THE BOERS AND PRIVATEERING.

Tuk revelation made by the Paris Matin that a French syndicate has been formed to put upon the high seas armed vessels flying the flags of the South African republic, providing Mr Kruger can bo induced to issue letters of marque, suggests interesting possibilities—not to say anything of probabilities. The document, which is now in Mr Kruger’s hands, awaiting his signature, reads as follows ; Monsieur: Wo accept your offer to organize a voluntary fleet, and it is to be understood that you are to arm at your own risks and perils ships against England, and that, in order to remunerate you for the said risks aud perils you will be allowed by tho government of tho South African Republic aud tho Orange Free State, if these preserve their independence, £BO per ton of displacement for English warships and £4O per ton of net registered tonnage for English commercial vessels captured or sunk. It is to be agreed that you warn the trade of neutrals of the danger to be incurred by English-ships, and that you are to respect the English vessels which are navigating at the time that the warning is given. Payment will be effected on the signing of peace out of the indemnity exacted from the English government a fortnight after such signature. In the cvent°that after the notice given oi the dangers ahead for English vessels such notice being equivalent to placing the English fleet under an interdict, peace shall be signed and the independence of the two states recognized, your expenditure w’iil lie reimbursed and £40,000 allowed for your intervention. ( As regards the vessels sunk, in 'the event of your being unable to furnish any material proofs that they have been sunk by your ships.'.it will suffice that you notify in advance that such vessels were to be attacked by you for their destruction to be credited subsequently to attacks on the part of your ships. Barring the obligation by which you will be bound, firstly, to warn neutral trading vessels, and, secondly, to respect vessels not having received notice of danger, you will be empowered to employ every means which you may deem serviceable for the attainment of your ends. You will be invested with full powers to sign contracts with agents on what terms you may think best, providing you do not overstep the conditions laid down for yourself in the present letters of marque. " The operations conducted by you will cease on peace being signed, armistices not being notified to you. Disputes concerning the present agreement will be referred to arbitration, two referees being appointed by you and two by us, and there will be no appeal against their decision.