Gross Jameson being hopelessly outnumbered, and his men starved, some of them Nr. 10860. having been without food for three days, surrendered, after suffering con- britannien. siderable loss. The telegrams are confused and contradictory, and it is difficult 4. Jan. 1896. to make out a connected account. All accounts agree, that the force was in a state of starvation, and the horses completely done up. It is further stated, that Bettington went out from Johannesburg ostensibly to Jameson's relief, but probably only on patrol, and that 30 of his men were made prisoners. Nr. 10861. SÜDAFRIKANISCHE REPUBLIK. Präsident Krüger an den englischen Kolonialminister. Gesetzliche Behandlung der Gefangenen; Misstrauen gegen Rhodes. Received, 9.15 a. m., 5th January 1896. Südafrikan. Telegraphic. || 4th January. Your Honour's telegram of the 4th Nr. 10861. instant. I have given no orders to have the freebooters who have been taken Republik. prisoners shot. Their case will in due course be decided strictly according 4. Jan. 1896. to the traditions of this Republic and in sharp contrast to the unheard-of proceedings of these freebooters there will be no punishment inflicted upon them which is not in accordance with law. || In England so many lying and false reports are disseminated even by the most influential newspapers that I deem it advisable to add, that the freebooters who have been taken prisoners have been treated by our Burghers with the greatest consideration, notwithstanding the fact that they have more than once been forced to take up arms for the defence of the dearly-bought independence of our Republic. || I hope your Honour will kindly pardon the liberty I am taking when I say in regard to the last part of your telegram, that our confidence in Rhodes has received such a rude shock that his absolute repudiation of the proceedings at Buluwayo ought to be received with the greatest caution. Even now we have news that an armed force is collecting on our borders. || If that be true, I trust that not the word of Rhodes but the influence of your Government and Sir Hercules Robinson will suffice to prevent further incursions of freebooters even although it was not successful in enabling the good intentions of the High Commissioner to be carried out in arresting the further advance of Jameson. || Will your Honour, in order to check the further dissemination of lying reports, do us the favour of giving publicity to the contents of this communication? Nr. 10862. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Kolonialminister an den Präsidenten der südafrikanischen Republik. Ant- Telegraphic. Sent 3.30 p. m., 5th January 1896. Gross I thank your Honour for you message, which I will Nr. 10862. The press have not given credence to the rumours britannien. about cruelty to the prisoners; and for myself I have always felt confidence 5. Jan. 1896. publish as you desire. britannien. Nr. 10862. in your magnanimity. I have sent an Imperial officer to Buluwayo to see, Gross- that my orders are obeyed and to prevent the possibility of any further raid, 5. Jan. 1996. and your Honour may rest confident that I will strictly uphold all the obligations of the London Convention of 1884. Nr. 10863. Gouverneur in Kapstadt. Massregeln zur Verhütung weiterer Unruhen. Telegraphic. 5th January.-No. 6. Gross- from hour to hour with private letters britannien. Sent 8.37 p. m., 5th January 1896. Private individuals are coming here from relatives which when pieced 5. Jan. 1896. together give reason for supposing that there may yet be armed bodies of men with artillery which might attempt to retrieve Jameson's disaster from Kimberley or Mafeking. Unless you are positive, that such is impossible, you are authorised to send troops to Mafeking at once with orders to prevent further filibustering. War Office are sending corresponding instructions to Officer Commanding Troops. || Krüger appears to think, that further filibustering. is contemplated from Buluwayo. A high military officer should therefore follow Ashburnham as quickly as possible. The Officer Commanding Troops Mafeking and the military officer who goes to Buluwayo should require in the Queen's name the British South Africa Company's officer to hand over to them the custody for the present of all ordnance and reserve ammunition. Tell Rhodes Her Majesty's Government consider these measures absoluty necessary, and request him to telegraph to his officers to comply with all orders from Deputy Commissioner. The British South Africa Company, who appear to have no control over their officers, are interested as much as Her Majesty's Government in averting any further headstrong action. Nr. 10864. britannien. Nr. 10864. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Kolonialminister. Aufregung in Johannesburg. Pretoria; received 1.8 a. m., 6th January 1896. Telegraphic. 5th January.-Nr. 3. Arrived here last night. Position of affairs very critical on side of Government of South African Republic and of 5. Jan. 1896. Orange Free State. There is desire to show moderation; but Boers show tendency to get out of hand and to demand execution of Jameson. I am told, that Government of South African Republic will demand disarmament of Johannesburg as a condition precedent to negatiations. Their military preparations are now practically complete, and Johannesburg, if besieged, could not hold out, as they are short of water and coal. On side of Johannesburg, leaders desire to be moderate; but men make safety of Jameson and concession of items in manifesto issued conditions precedent to disarmament. If these are refused, they assert they will elect their own leaders and fight it out in their Gross own way. As the matter now stands, I see great difficulty in avoiding civil Nr. 10864. war; but I will do my best and telegraph result of my official interview to- britannien. morrow. It is said, that President of the South African Republic intends to 5. Jan. 1896. make some demands with respect to Article No. IV. of the London Convention. of 1884. Nr. 10865. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Derselbe an Denselben. Rhodes tritt zurück. Pretoria; received 1.9 a. m., 6th January 1896. Gross Telegraphic. | 5th January.-No. 4. C. J. Rhodes telegraphs to me, that Nr. 10865. he finds the present position of affairs so strained that he thinks I should britannien. accept his resignation. His colleagues in the Ministry, I understand, are all 5. Jan. 1896. of the same opinion. Acting on suggestions from Rhodes, I have invited Sir Gordon Sprigg to undertake task of formation of new Ministry. Nr. 10866. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Der Geschäftsträger in Petermoritzburg an den Kolonialminister. Buren über das Gefecht. Berichte der Received 12.45 noon, 6th January 1896. Gross Telegraphic. | Boers' account from Johannesburg states, that Jameson's Nr. 10866. number of killed is 130 and the wounded are 37; Boers' number of killed is britannien. 3 and the wounded are 5. I am informed, that all press telegrams and private 6. Jan. 1896. telegrams from Johannesburg are inspected by Government of South African Republic and many mutilated. || I issued Proclamations 2nd and 4th January drawing attention to Natal Law No. 21, 1875, and notifying that it would be enforced in Natal and Zululand respectively. Nr. 10867. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Kolonialminister an den Sent 6.20 p. m, 6th January 1896. Gross Telegraphic. | 6th January.-No. 3. It is reported in the press telegrams Nr. 10867. the President of the South African Republic on the 30th December held out britannien. definite hopes, that concessions would be proposed in regard to education and 6. Jan. 1896. the franchise. No overt act of hostility appears to have been committed by the Johannesburg people since the overthrow of Jameson. The statement that arms and ammunition are stored in that town in large quantities may be only one of many boasts without foundation. Under these circumstances, active measures against the town do not seem to be urgently required at the present moment, and I hope no step will be taken by the President of the South African Republic liable to cause more bloodshed and excite civil war in the Republic. Nr. 10868. Nr. 10868. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Derselbe an Denselben. Wünscht Aufklärung über die Rüstungen Jameson's. Telegraphic. | 6th January.-No. 4. The question is being asked here in britannien, many quarters whether the Colonial Office and the High Commissioner knew 6. Jan. 1896. of the unusual concentration of stores and men on the borders of the South African Republic, and, if so, why they did not stop it. || It was known to me, that men were required to guard the railway and also that the British Bechuanaland Police came to Mafeking for the purpose of being selected and engaged by the British South Africa Company; but I did not know, that Dr. Jameson was engaging other new men, or that three additional troops had been brought from Buluwayo under the Honorable-White, which reached Pitsani about 13th December. Did President Krüger know of this concentration, and, if so, why did he not ask for your interference? || I should be glad if you could send me any additional information which would throw light on these points. Nr. 10869. britannien. Nr. 10869. GROSSBRITANNIEN. - Der Gouverneur in Kapstadt an den Kolonialminister. Präsident Krüger fordert bedingungslose Unterwerfung Johannesburgs. Pretoria; received 12.45 a. m, 7th January 1896. Telegraphic. || 6th January.-No. 2. Met President South African Republic Gross- and Executive Council to-day. Before opening proceedings I expressed on 6. Jan. 1896. behalf of Her Majesty's Government my sincere regret at the unwarrantable raid made by Jameson: also thanked Government of South African Republic for the moderation shown under trying circumstances. With regard to Johannesburg, President of South African Republic announced decision of Government to be be that Johannesburg must lay down its arms unconditionally as a precedent to any discussion and consideration of grievances. I endeavoured to obtain some indication of the steps which would be taken in the event of disarmament but without success, it being intimated that Government of South African Republic had nothing more to say on this subject than had been already embodied in Proclamation of President the South African Republic. I inquired whether any decision had been come to as regards disposal of prisoners and received a reply in the negative. President South African Republic said, that, as his Burghers to number of 8000 had been collected and could not be asked to remain indefinitely, he must request a reply, yes or no, to this ultimation within twenty-four hours. I have communicated decision of Government of South African Republic to Reform Committee at Johannesburg through British Agent in South African Republic. || The Burgher levies are in such an excited state over the invasion of their country that I believe President of South African Republic could not control them except in Gross the event of unconditional surrender. I have privately recommended them to Nr. 10869. accept ultimatum. Proclamation of President of South African Republic refers britannien. to promise to consider all grievances which are properly submitted and to lay 6. Jan. 1896. the same before the Legislature without delay. Nr. 10870. GROSSBRITANNIEN. Derselbe an Denselben. Ant wort auf Nr. 10863. Pretoria, received 3.40 a. m., 7th January 1896. Gross As 6. Jan. 1896 Telegraphic. || 6th January.-No. 4. Having communicated your telegram Nr. 10870. of 5th January No. 6 to British South Africa Company, I have received britannien. following reply: Begins: There is no truth in any such statements. regards Kimberley and Mafeking, its absurdity is its best refutation. As regards Salisbury and Buluwayo, I have wired as follows: || Commences: I am desired by High Commissioner to request you, in the Queen's name, to comply with the following instructions, viz: You are to cail upon the officers in the Company's service in charge of ordnance and reserve ammunition to hand it over for the present to the custody of an officer now being sent to Buluwayo for this purpose by Her Majesty's Government. Ends. || Four days ago orders were sent to Acting Administrator and to Civil Commissioner, Buluwayo, calling upon all citizens to maintain law and order, and to abstain from any movement. These orders have been faithfully obeyed by the inhabitants of Rhodesia, who are quite under the control of their officers. I should be glad therefore if you would inform Secretary of State for the Colonies of this, as it is important: the feeling of suspense and excitement will be allayed everywhere and especially in Rhodesia the moment it is known Dr. Jameson and his companions have been released. Kindly acknowledge receipt of this wire. Ends. Gross Telegraphic. Deliver following message to J. H. Hofmeyr:- || Begins: Nr. 10871. Thanks for letter and offer of co-operation for common objects, which I britannien. cordially accept. || There shall be full inquiry into the circumstances of the 7. Jan. 1896. late raid upon Transvaal territory, and steps will be taken to make it impossible for such attempts to be planned or executed in future. || My present chief object is to prevent further embitterment of relations between British and Dutch which might result from extreme measures against either Johannesburg or prisoners. || Please telegraph this to High Commissioner to save time, and publish.— J. Chamberlain. Ends. |