§ MR. RICHARDasked the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is able to confirm the announcement made by telegraph from Cape Town that Letsea, the paramount Chief of the Basutos, has asked for an armistice, and that a suspension of hostilities for seven days has been accorded; and, whether he is able to inform the House on what terms the Government of the Cape Colony are prepared to make peace with the Basutos?
MR. GRANT DUFFYes, Sir. "We have received news that a week's armistice has been officially confirmed. In reply to the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I think the best answer I can give is to read part of the telegram which the Cape Minister agreed to Sir Hercules Robinson sending to the Chief Magistrate at Maseru, with reference to the Basuto application. The terms offered to the Basutos in that telegram were—
Let their sincerity be proved, if they are sincere, by an immediate surrender of their arms in submission to the authority of the Government; and in that case I would try to secure that they shall be treated with the utmost leniency, consistent with the vindication of the law's authority.The Cape Minister further agreed to Sir Hercules Robinson sending these words—In the event of their placing themselves unreservedly in my hands, they may rely upon me using my utmost endeavours to secure for them terms not only just but generous.