2_.

_His Honour The Acting State President, S.A.R., Klerksdorp._

YOUR HONOUR,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Honour's telegram
forwarded to me by His Excellency Lord Kitchener. I leave to-day with
His Honour President Steyn for Klerksdorp, and hope, D.V., to arrive
there on Wednesday next.

I have the honour to be, &c.,
J. H. DE LA REY,
_Asst. Commandant General_.

On the evening of April 7th Commandant General L. Botha also arrived
at Klerksdorp.

President Steyn, accompanied by his Executive Council and by General
de la Rey, left the farm Weltevreden on April 7th, and arrived at
Klerksdorp at 12 o'clock on April 9th.

The British authorities gave accommodation to the Free State
Government in the Old Town, while the Transvaal Government was
accommodated in the New Town.

The first meeting between the two Governments took place on Wednesday
afternoon, April 9th, at three o'clock, in a large tent which had been
pitched for that purpose some little distance out of the town.

There were present, representing the South African Republic:--

The Acting State President, S. W. Burger.
The State Secretary, F. W. Reitz.
The Commandant General, Louis Botha.
General de la Rey.
Mr. L. J. Meyer.
Mr. J. C. Krogh.

Also Mr. L. J. Jacobsz, Asst. State Attorney; Mr. N. J. de Wet,
Military Secretary of the Commandant General; Mr. I. S. Ferrerra,
Military Secretary of General de la Rey, and Mr. D. van Velden,
Secretary of the Executive Council.

Representing the Orange Free State:--

President M. T. Steyn.
Chief Commandant C. R. de Wet.
General J. B. M. Hertzog.
General C. H. Olivier.
Acting Government Secretary W. J. C. Brebner.

Further: Revd. J. D. Kestell, Acting Secretary of the Executive
Council, and Mr. B. J. du Plessis, Private Secretary to President
Steyn.

The Acting State President of the South African Republic was elected
Chairman.

After the meeting had been opened with prayer, the Chairman spoke as
follows:--

As you are aware, we have for some time been desirous of meeting one
another. The correspondence between the Netherlands Minister and Lord
Lansdowne was sent us by Lord Kitchener, under instructions from his
Government. I consider the transmission by the British Government of
this correspondence as an invitation from England to the two Republics
to discuss the question of peace. Hav