MR CHAMBERLAIN AND THE BOER GENERALS.

Manawatu Herald, 25 November 1902, Page 2

MR CHAMBERLAIN AND THE BOER GENERALS.

A Blue Book which has been issued shows that Mr Chamberlain on the 6fch insb. challenged the statements of the Boer Generals on the Subject of relief, as made in their Continental speeches. The cost of the burghers’ camps —which had now become organisations to enable them to return to their homes—had been £200,000 per month, which was borne by the British Government.

Replying to a speech delivered by General Botha in Paris in which he stated that Lord Kitchener had used the sufferings of the women and children to induce their relations to surrender, Mr Chamberlain urged that nothing was spared that science and money were capable of achieving to reduce the mortality in the camps. Statistics proved that at the moment of surrender there was no cause for anxietj r .li to the conditions of the occupants of the camps. No request was made at Vereeniging, Mr Chamberlain stated, for special provision for women and orphans. Quoting the Vereenigmg disposal of free grants, which he claias to be unprecedented iri the liistory of the world, Mr Chamberlain said that if' more money were required there was a source whence a substantial addition might fairly be expected. That was the unspent ballance of large remittances sent from the Transvaal to Europe. Mr Chamberlain said that Great Britain, as successor to the Republics, was entitled to such balance and lie invited General Botha to cooperate in finding to whom the itloney wits entrusted, and in obtaining a statement of accounts; The colonial Government, lie said, had assumed entire responsibility for the maintenance'of the destitute and orphans, and suitable provisions would be made for widows. , If there were abundant rain and extensive cultivation by’ the end of a year, it would be the prelude to a degree of prosperity in no wise inferior to that prior to the war.

On the r2th instant General Botha sent a conciliatory reply. He said that had the Boer Generals at the London conference received an assurance that the Government would undertake full responsibility for the widows and orphans and destitute, their appeal would never have been issued in its present form.

They had originally interpreted the free grants as not providing for anything, apart from war losses, for widows, orphans and destitute. He was glad to learn from a redent speech that the Government would undertake fuller responsibility towards the necessitous and the injured, and also respecting the conditions of loans. General Botha stated that he had no knowledge of the funds remitted to Europe. He hoped that Mr Chamberlain’s tour would be a step towards the restoration of peace and prosperity, which he was sure Mr Chamberlain desired to promote. Reuter's Brussels correspondent states that Messrs Fischer, VVessels and Wolmarans will be allowed to proceed to Capetown upon their taking the oath of allegiance to Great Britain and undertaking to abstaiy from politics in future. Permission to return to the Transvaal has been refused. SECRET SERVICE FUNDS. The Daily Mail alleges that a million of the Transvaal funds remitted to Europe have been traced to the hands of Dr Leyds and Mr -Kruger, who arc retaining it for the purpose of fostering political agitation. The paper also adds that the Boer Generals consented to Mr Kruger and Dr Levels retaining two sums of three-quarters of a million for the purposes of intrigue. THE CAPE COLONY REBELS. There are persistent rumours that a a general amnesty will be granted to rebels upon Mr Chamberlain’s arrival in South Africa, The artisans on the Rand are demanding a nine instead of a ten-hour working day. The Daily Mail states that the Board of Trade is despatching Commissioners to South Africa to inquire as to openings for trade.