of honour of the British people; but now that the prestige of the British Empire may be considered to be assured by the capture of one of our forces by Her Majesty's troops, and that we are thereby forced to evacuate other positions which our forces had occupied, that difficulty is over, and we can no longer hesitate clearly to inform your Government and people in the sight of the whole civilized world why we are fighting, and on what conditions we are ready to restore peace. No. 2.-The Marquess of Salisbury to the Presidents of the South African Republic and Orange Free State. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, March 11, 1900. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Honours' telegram dated the 5th March from Bloemfontein, of which the purport is principally to demand that Her Majesty's Government shall recognize the "incontestable independence" of the South African Republic and Orange Free State "as sovereign international States," and to offer, on those terms, to bring the war to a conclusion. In the beginning of October last, peace existed between Her Majesty and the two Republics under the Conventions which then were in existence. A discussion had been proceeding for some months between Her Majesty's Government and the South African Republic, of which the object was to obtain redress for certain very serious grievances under which British residents in the South African Republic were suffering. In the course of these negotiations the South African Republic had, to the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government, made considerable armaments, and the latter had, consequently, taken steps to provide corresponding reinforcements to the British garrisons of Cape Town and Natal. No infringement of the rights guaranteed by the Conventions had, up to that point, taken place on the British side. Suddenly, at two days' notice, the South African Republic, after issuing an insulting ultimatum, declared war upon Her Majesty; and the Orange Free State, with whom there had not even been any discussion, took a similar step. Her Majesty's dominions were immediately invaded by the two Republics, siege was laid to three towns within the British frontier, a large portion of the two Colonies was overrun, with great destruction to property and life, and the Republics claimed to treat the inhabitants of extensive portions of Her Majesty's dominions as if those dominions had been annexed to one or other of them. In anticipation of these operations the South African Republic had been accumulating for many years past military stores on an enormous scale, which, by their character, could only have been intended for use against Great Britain. Your Honours make some observation of a negative character upon the object with which these preparations were made. I do not think it necessary to discuss the questions you have raised. But the result of these preparations, carried on with great secrecy, has been that the British Empire has been compelled to confront an invasion which has entailed upon the Empire a costly war and the loss of thousands of precious lives. This great calamity has been the penalty which Great Britain has suffered for having in recent years acquiesced in the existence of the two Republics. In view of the use to which the two Republics have put the position which was given to them, and the calamities which their unprovoked attack has inflicted upon Her Majesty's dominions, Her Majesty's Government can only answer your Honours' telegram by saying that they are not prepared to assent to the independence either of the South African Republic or of the Orange Free State. CORRESPONDENCE respecting the Action of the British Naval Authorities with regard to the Detention and Search of certain Foreign Vessels during the War in South Africa (Search of Mail Steamers; Contraband of War, &c.). December 1899-January 1900. No. 1.-Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received December 16.) SIR, Admiralty, December 16, 1899. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform the Secretary of State that a telegram has been received from the Commander-in-chief on the Mediterranean Station : "German steam-ship Herzog, with a considerable number of male passengers, many in khaki, apparently soldiers, left the Canal for South Africa at 5 P.M. on 12th December. No troops were declared." A similar communication has been addressed to the Colonial Office and War Office. Sir T. Sanderson. I am, &c., C. I. THOMAS, pro Secretary. No. 2.-Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received December 16.) SIR, Admiralty, December 16, 1899. WITH reference to Admiralty letter of this day's date relative to the passengers on board the steam-ship Herzog, who are supposed to be soldiers for the Transvaal, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will state to the Marquess of Salisbury that a telegram has been received from the Commander-in-chief at the Cape of Good Hope, dated the 14th December, in the following terms: "I have received information that a number of passengers dressed in khaki have left the Suez Canal on the German steam-ship Herzog. Can my cruisers legally remove these men from the Herzog? No troops were declared. See my telegram of 5th December." I am, &c., Sir T. Sanderson. EVAN MACGREGOR. (Inclosure.)-Rear-Admiral Sir R. Harris to Admiralty. (Telegraphic.) Simonstown, December 5, 1899. Marathon at Aden reports sailing of Bundesrath for Delagoa Bay. Ammunition suspected, but none ascertained. She carries twenty Dutch and Germans and two supposed Boers, three Germans and two Austrians, believed to be officers, all believed to be intending combatants, although shown as civilians; also twentyfour Portuguese soldiers. No. 3.-Admirally to Foreign Office.-(Received December 22.) SIR, Admiralty, December 21, 1899. WITH reference to previous correspondence, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a telegram, dated the 21st December, from the Senior Officer at Aden respecting the German steam-vessel Herzog. I am, Sir T. Sanderson. &c., EVAN MACGREGOR. (Inclosure.)-Senior Naval Officer, Aden, to Admiralty. (Telegraphic.) Aden, December 21, 1899. GERMAN steam-ship Herzog, conveying, probably for service in Transvaal, about forty Dutch and German medical and other officers and nurses, sailed for Delagoa Bay 18th December. No. 4.-Admiralty to Foreign Office.-(Received December 30.) SIR, Admiralty, December 29, 1899. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a telegram, dated the 29th December, 1899, frou the Commander-in-chief, Cape of Good Hope Station, relative to the seizure of the German steam-ship Bundesrath. I am, &c., Sir T. Sanderson. EVAN MACGREGOR. (Inclosure.)-Rear-Admiral Sir R. Harris to Admiralty. (Telegraphic.) Simonstown, December 29, 1899. GERMAN steam-ship Bundesrath arrived at Durban to-day in charge of Magicienne; but no particulars of the capture have as yet reached me. No. 5.-Sir F. Lascelles to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received December 30.) (Telegraphic.) Berlin, December 30, 1899. I was sent for by Count Bülow this evening to speak about the seizure of the Bundesrath, the German mail-steamer which has been taken to Durban. The Hamburg Company had given positive assurances that she carried no contraband, and if this should be the case Count Bülow was desirous that she might be speedily released. Instructions had been given to Count Hatzfeldt to put the case before your Lordship. No. 6.-The Marquess of Salisbury to Sir F. Lascelles. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, December 30, 1899. HER Majesty's ship Magicienne is reported by Admiral at the Cape to have brought German steam-ship Bundesrath into Durban. We were aware that she was suspected to be carrying ammunition in her cargo, and that she had on board a number of passengers believed to be volunteers for service with the Boers, but we have no details nor information as to the grounds for the seizure. No. 7.-Colonial Office to Foreign Office.-(Received December 31.) SIR, Downing Street, December 30, 1899. I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, for the information of the Marquess of Salisbury, a copy of a telegram from the Governor of Natal on the subject of the seizure of the German steam-ship Bundesrath. I am, &c., Sir T. Sanderson. EDWARD WINGFIELD. (Inclosure.)-Governor Sir W. Hely-Hutchinson to Mr. Chamberlain. (Telegraphic.) December 29, 1899. FOLLOWING telegram received from German Consul at Durban to-day "Imperial German mail-steamer Bundesrath just brought in as prize by Her Majesty's ship Magicienne. In name of my Government I herewith protest against her being seized and detained." I have informed German Consul that his telegram has been communicated to you and High Commissioner. No. 8.-The Marquess of Salisbury to Sir F. Lascelles. (Telegraphic.) Foreign Office, December 31, 1899. GERMAN Embassy made a verbal communication to-day respecting the Bundesrath, requesting that she should be released on the ground that she carries no contraband according to assurances of owners, and because her detention, owing to her being a mailship, interferes with public and common interests, in addition to the loss suffered by the Company. The Embassy was informed that further particulars would be given as soon as received, but that we have no information at present beyond that sent to you, which has been communicated to Count Hatzfeldt. No. 9.-Admiralty to Foreign Office.-- (Received January 1.) SIR, Admiralty, January 1, 1900. I AM commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a telegram, dated the 31st ultimo, from the Com |