nd handed in our
proposal.

Lord Kitchener wished for a proposal of a very different character from
that of the two Governments; but as it would not have been proper for
them to make any proposal injurious to Independence, the Presidents
declared that they could not do so, and asked him to send to the English
Government the proposal which they had already laid before him. Lord
Kitchener at last acceded to this request, and the following telegram
was accordingly sent to England:

FROM LORD KITCHENER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

"PRETORIA, _April 12th, 1902_.

"The Boer Representatives desire to acquaint His Majesty's
Government with the fact that they entertain an earnest wish for
peace, and that they, therefore, have decided to ask the British
Government to bring hostilities to an end, and to proceed to
formulate a Treaty of Peace. They are ready to accept an Agreement,
by which, in their opinion, all future wars between them and the
British Government in South Africa may be avoided. They think that
this aim can be attained if provisions are made in relation to the
following points:--

"1. Franchise.

"2. Equal rights for the Dutch and English languages in Educational
matters.

"3. Customs Union.

"4. Demolition of all the forts in the Transvaal and Free State.

"5. Arbitration in case of future disagreements, and only subjects
of the parties to be arbitrators.

"6. Mutual amnesty.

"But in case these terms should not be satisfactory, then they wish
to know what terms the British Government will give them, so that
the result which they all desire may be attained."

On Monday, April 15th, Lord Kitchener sent to the two Governments a copy
of the following telegram, which he had received from the Secretary of
State:--

FROM SECRETARY OF STATE TO LORD KITCHENER.

"LONDON, _April 13th, 1902_.

"His Majesty's Government shares with all its heart in the earnest
wish of the Boer Representatives, and trusts that the present
negotiations will lead thereto. But they have already declared in
the clearest manner and have to repeat that they cannot take into
consideration any proposals which have as basis the sanction of the
Independence of the former Republics, which are now formally
annexed to the British Crown. And it would be well if you and
Milner were