BECHUANALAND.

Kumara Times, Issue 2675, 18 April 1885, Page 2

BECHUANALAND.

GENERAL SIR CHARLES WARREN’S PROCLAMATION. The following is the text of General Sir Charles Warren’s Proclamation to the people of Stellaland, delivered at Vryburg, the capital, on the 14th February : Whereas certain freebooters have invaded and occupied lands iu Bechuanaland belonging to tribes under the protection of Her Majesty the Queen, and whereas it is necessary to expel these freebooters by military force, and whereas these freebooters who are connected with and in communication with persons inhabiting settled districts of South Africa now living in Africa, and whereas some of these freebooters are now living in districts called Stellaland, and whereas the district called Stellaland has a nominal Government administered partly by persons living outside Stellaland, who admit that they have no power to govern Stellaland, and who cannot enter Vryburg, the seat of government, without the presence of an armed force, and who state that any fresh elections in Stellaland will cause a breach of peace, and whereas there is no law and order, and to avoid a risk of disturbances: military rule is hereby declared in Stellaland while Her Majesty s troops are in the occupation of the country, to be applied so far as is necessary to supplement the existing inadequate machinery of government, always provided that no responsibility of any nature whatever, is incurred by Her Majesty’s Government with reference to all debts of Stellaland, and of any “ good fors ” issued by so-called Government, the circumstances of which debt should be inquired into by an adequate Court, after consultation with people of Sti'll ihind, wV> mu«i take upon themselves .1 i iv.ip r.siij.,i v with regard to all the retrospective claims

for administration of Government up to the present date. Given under my hand and seal this 14th day of February, 1885. Signed, Chas. Warren, Her Britannic Majesty’s Special Commissioner for Bechuanalaud.