The Terms of Peace.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 31, 31 July 1902, Page 2

The Terms of Peace.

The full text of the Agreement signed by the Representatives of the Boers, on the one hand, and Lord Milner and Lord Kitchener on the other, is given in our recent exchanges, and although the substance of the terms had been already communicated to us by cable, the information now to hand is interesting as being more detailed, definite, and authoritative. The chief points in the Agreement are as follow :—: — • Burghers to lay down all arms and recognise the King as their lawful Sovereign ; all prisoners to be brought back as soon as possible to South Africa without loss of liberty or property; no action to be taken against such prisoners save where guilty of breaches ot the laws of war ; the Dutch language to be taught in schools where parents desire it, and to be used in Courts if necessnry ; rifles will be allowed for protection ; military administration will be withdrawn as soon as possible, and, as soon as circumstances permit, self government substituted ; no special tax wi:l be imposed on landed property to pay the cost of the war; three million pounds will be provided for re-stocking Boer farms ; colonial rebels to be liable to trial according to the law of the colony to which they belong, the rank and file to be disfranchised for lie, but no death penalty to be inflicted.' It will thus be seen that, so f.tr from insi>ting on the 'unconditional surrender' which Mr Chamberlain talked about some time ago. Great Britain has made concessions in all directions. The liberty and property of the burghers are retained, the native language is preserved, an indemnity of three million pounds is to be paid for the purpose of re-stocking the Boer farms, and, most noteworthy ot all, an arrangement has been made whereby a virtual pardon is conceded to the Cape rebels who took up arms during the war, this question being to the very last the great bone of contention between the two parties.

It must be admitted that the terms are most generous — so generous, indeed, that some of the ultra-Conservatives m England are beginning to complain thrit they aie altogether too lenient. This feeling was somewhat pointedly expressed by an old soldier who, when asked to rejoice at the attainment of ' peace with honor,' is said to have replied : ' Peace with honor, indeed ! It seems to me that we have got all the peace, and the Boers have all the honor.' There can t.e liltle doubt, however, that the policy of Biitain on this occasion is as ■wise as it has been generous. If th< re is to be any re.il peace and true loyalty in South Africa, the old bitter Boer ftehng must be worn down, and that can only be dune by continued generosity and patient kindness. We could never bung ourselves to swallow, even with a liberal allowance of salt, the spreadeagle cables which appeared in the p >pers a short time ago intimating that after the conclusion of p«>ace Uie Boers vvt-re cheering themselves hoarse ovir Lord Kitchener, and \.er positively overflowing with loyalty to the country wh.ch tl.ey

l^j 1 fought so fiercely and so long. If the Boers really indulged in such outbursts, in our opinion it meant very little, and the later cablegram announcing that a distinct reaction is 4 apparent and that many burghers are wearing republican colours is much more likely to be the truth. It is sincerely to be hoped that the suggestion which, according to the cable, has been made m England, • that the best means of overcoming bitternesswould be by the appointment of prominent Dutchmen to the Executive Council or Repatriating Committee,' will be carried into effect, for it is only by a policy of this sort that the kindly feeling of the Boers— which is the surest guarantee of peace — can ever be secured.