Peace Proposals.

Manawatu Herald, 19 April 1902, Page 3

Peace Proposals.

LORD KITCHENER’S TERMS.

In view of the re-opening of peace negotiations it is not uninteresting to review the terms offered to the Boers by Lord Kitchener on February 28th, 1001. The Commander-in-chief addressed the following letter to General ***' ffis Majesty's Government will at once grant an amnesty in the Transvaal and Orange River cobmes for all bona fide acts of war committed during the recent hostilities. British subjecta belonging to Cape Colony, whi e they will not be compelled to return to those colonies, will, if th«y d° so. be liable to be dealt with by the law of those colonies specially passed to meet the circumstances arising out of the present war. As you ar ® less aware, the special law in Cape Colony has greatly mitigated the ordinary penalty for high treason in the present cases. All prisoners of war now in St. Helena, Ceylon, or elsewhere, will, on the completion of the surrender, be brought back to their country as quickly as arrangements can be made for their transport. At the earliest practicable elate military administration will cease, and will be replaced by civil administration m the form of Crown colony government. There will therefore be in the first Instance in each of the new colonies a Governor and an Executive Counci /-nnefotins of a certain number of official members, to whom a bominated unofficial element will be But it is the desire of his Majesty s Government, ae soon as circumstances □emit, to introduce a representative element and ultimately to concede to tie new colonies the privileges of selffoment. Moreover, on the cessation of hostilities a High Court will be astablished in each of the new colonies end this Court will be independent of the Executive. Church property, public, trust, and orphan funds will s ™ loth the English and SK languages will be used and taught in public schools were parents of 'the children desire it. and allowed r 0 f Law. As regards the debts 0! the late Republican Governments bis Majesty’s G, J. ve^J ieat lt ca " s ' * 1 MBdettako any liability- u is, however, prepared, as an act of grace, L Lt asidr a sum not exceeding V „ 000 te repay inhabitants of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies for foods requisitioned from them by the fate Republican Governments or subsequent to annexation by commandants in the field being m a position to enforce such requirements SS such claims will have to be established to the satisfac ion of a So on a Judicial Commission apnnbfted bv the Government to investiassess them, and it exceeding S',he £..=00.000. they .ill “liable to | reduction prorata, also win inform your Honor that the begt rnvernraent will take into immediate considerat j 0 a the possibility "sfisnr srss 5 fheS no farmers to defray the expense of thVwan When burghers require the moiscUon of firearms such will be *aUowed hJJ. 0 ““ oU t I" 8 ? 1° The 'Transvaal and Oran 5 e SScStoSiSMu not the Intention sy^^ssr»«s»«w-

and if then given it will be so limited as to secure the just predominance of the white races. The legal position of coloured persons will, however, be similar to that which they hold in Cape Colony. In conclusion, I must inform your Honor that if the terms now offered are not accepted after a reasonable delay for consideration they must be regarded as cancelled. In reference to the last paragraph it may be stated that Mr announced a few days ago that the terms were still open for acceptance.