THE SITUATION IN BASUTOLAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2095, 10 November 1880, Page 3

THE SITUATION IN BASUTOLAND.

[From the " Cape Argus."]

The following minute of an interview between the Colonial Seoretary and Tsekelo, Sophonia and Ntsane, sons of Moshesh, which was held at Maseru, in Basutoland, on Saturday, August 25th, has been published by the Capo Government, and throws some light upon the negotiations which preceded the recent outbreak of the Basutos: —After a

friondly meeting and a general allusion to the present state of affairs in the country, Mr gprigg inquired whether it was the chiefs who advised the Basutos to obtain guns in return for the work done by them at the Diamond Fields and elsewhere, or whether the chiefs assigned any reason to them for the possession of guns. Tsekelo answered that he was not aware that any of the greater chiefs had urged their men to get guns, but he thought that iit was simply the desire of the younger ohiefs to become possessed of arms. Lerothodi and Bereng had both visited the Diamond Fields, and he thought that it was quite probable that they had exerted their influence in that direction. He said that he did not think the people had risen solely on account of the disarmament movement, but there were certain rebels who wished to be entirely free from the Govern- 1 ment or the Queen, and who wished the abolition of the hut tax, and even the removal of the Magistrates, and these rebels used the disarmament question simply _as a lever to move the people into joining . them in rebellion, and, by "eating up" j those who had disarmed, to frighton the rest from giving up their guns. Tsekelo j thought that any evidence of weakness on the part of the Government would endanger ( the results of any negotiations which might , be opened, and would probably lead to j serious complications. Masupha was aware , that at the Pitso Mr Sprigg promised that ( their armß should not be token away by , force, but that when the Basutos themselves . felt oonvinced that peace and security Lad j become durable, they would then admit tho , necessity of giving up their arms ; and Masupha recently stated this to his people at a meeting whioh was held some few days since. Now, if Masupha was really cognisant of this arrangement, why should he eat up tho loyal people ? He must have done so ! from a motive apart from the question of ' disarmament. Mr Sprigg said : " You will ' remember I told you at tho Pitso that ! the Government of the Queen was peace. ' And that is true to-day ; but the country is not at; peace. Some of the Basutos are ] fighting against the authority of the Queen, ' and the question is—What are the best steps | to be taken to restore peace in the country?" Tsekelo said—" We tell you these things for your information. Our opinions may lead ' you to wrong conclusions, for we may_ be J biassed by the treatment we have received at the hands of the rebels; but yon of your 1 great judgment may be able to decide upon • the justness of our case, and we hope that ( the Government will be able to make a ' distinction between real rebels and those who have been compelled to rebel," Mr 1 Sprigg then said : " The Government has 1 been patient and forbearing. Do you think < that it would be wise to exercise this 1 patience a little longer ? " Tsekelo replied : ; " That if the Government had used force, J then they would think tho rebels had some ] grievance, but not one act of the Govern- ] ment had been aggressive,- everything being i done by proclamation or Government notice, i and no force used. If matters wero settled j by an amnesty, and no punishment or com- 1 pensation required, then, as soon as you leave, : all the loyal people will be " eaten up," and ( their position will be worse than before. Mr 1 Sprigg here asked —" What do you mean by ] Government showing itself in foroo ?" 1 Tsekelo replied that he meant a display of 1 armed troops on the part of the Government (for tho rebels have taken up arms) whioh ] would, he thinks, spread dismay and fear i among the rebels. Speaking to Mr Sprigg and Mr Orpen, be said—" Your own eyes 1 and cars will be your be9t witness, and will suggest to run the oourse that should be pursued, and these actual ciroum- ; stances will dictate to you what is necessary to be done more than we can," Mr Sprigg ■ inquired whether the rebel ohiefs were gaining strength, or if the people wore falling away from them ? Tsekelo said that, as far as he oould judge from aotual observation, the rebels were getting weaker, the people decline Bonding any more grain to Thabaßosigo, and the numbers employed were diminishing through Masnpha not being able to feed them. He could not at present advise the immediate introduction of a large force, bei cause, so far, the Government has practised I patience and forbearance, and he thinks that after you have been to this meeting of the ohiefs, you will be better able to judge what s to be done. Mr Sprigg said, " You are now Bpeaking plainly, but at a publio meeting the ohiefs will not speak so plainly, and that is why I ask you here privately to tell me what yon think." Tsekelo replied, "Perhaps it would be as well to oontinue this forbearance, for if we advise you to the contrary, we might perhaps unconsciously bo givirjg way to our wounded feelings, for Mr Griffith and we have been bearing the burden, and we are now glad to transfer it to you. Your authority and high position may exercise a greater influence. We might perchance say," Send for more troops ;" but the clear intellect and fresh counsel yon bring to bear on the subject may lead to a peaceable solution. We are describing the symptoms of our disease to you, and you are the doctor come to heal us. We are not speaking because we hate the rebels, but we think that at the Pitso you may hear only complimentary language, and we wish you to know the truth. If onr relations were to express their repentance and acknowledge their guilt in rebelling against the Government we should be very happy indeed, and we still hope that ycur presence, ability, and experience will effect a settlement of this distressing matter. We still hope that you will continue in your prosent policy of forbearance. It is now twelve years since we came urder the Government of the Queen, and we are ready to remain faithful unto death, and to help the Government by our aots and counsel. The consciences of the rebels accuse them, and not only are they distressed on that account, but they also know that Mr Sprigg will condemn them too. They are not building the fortifications out of shoer rebellion, but they are in a state of desperation, knowing that they have committed a great crime." Sophonia said that he did not think the rebels were in such very great fear, but that they were happy because they 1 were at largo, could get guns and brandy, • and were under no sort of constraint what--1 soever. They ore certainly falling away in • numbers, but their boaating is as loud ao ever. In Ssrea there are many Boers with waggons trading without licenses and bringing in brandy or anything else thoy can sell. Ntsane again 1 expressed his gladness at seeing Mr Sprigg in thoßO parts, and was glad that Letsea, as representative of the old Government, and Mr i Sprigg as representative of the new Govern- , ment, were of one aocord, and working hand in hand. Since these people have made dia--1 armament the pretext for rebellion, he would 1 suggest that the Government should tell • them that they could keep their guns, but must remember that the land they stand 1 upon is the property of the Queen, and he 1 was of opinion that the Government should t offer them the alternative of giving up their guns, or leaving the country,