HL Deb 24 March 1881 vol 259 cc1786-9
LORD BRABOURNE

I have given Notice to my noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies of Questions which I wish to put to him with regard to the proceedings in the Transvaal. We are at present without any definite information as to the precise state of feeling in the Transvaal. While a large number of men have been armed against Her Majesty's authority, we do not know the extent of the loyal feeling among the Boers, or what amount of compulsion may have been put on a certain number of them to join the ranks of the insurgents. I want to know, Whether, in the provisions of the peace which is about to be made, Her Majesty's Government have done that which was omitted to be stated the other night, and have taken care that due protection should be afforded to the loyal Boers of the Transvaal, to the loyal Natives, and to the English Settlers; and, further, whether any provision has been made to insure some compensation to those who, in person or property, have suffered, owing to their fidelity to the British Crown? I wish further to ask, Whether Her Majesty's Government have taken steps, or will take steps, to bring, if possible, to justice the murderers of Captain Elliott and Dr. Barber, each of whom was murdered under circumstances of peculiar atrocity; also what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take with regard to what I must again call the massacre of a detachment of the 94th Regiment? Some time ago I asked a Question on this subject, describing that affair as a massacre, and my noble Friend then admitted that, as far as he knew, it was an accurate description. Since that time there has been a statement from the Boers themselves relating to the transaction, which statement bears upon it evident marks of untruth. We have now Sir Owen Lanyon's own statement, and it appears that under cover of the white flag the Boers treacherously obtained a position of advantage over that detachment, and it was in reality little better than a murder. I will not enter now into the whole question of the conditions of the peace; but if outrages of this kind are allowed to be perpetrated without any notice from the British Crown, which in old times would certainly have been taken, there will not only be, in this particular instance, great danger to the tranquillity of the White inhabitants of South Africa, but, generally, all over the world, there will also be a depreciation of the reputation and the name of Great Britain in the minds of the Native populations, which I am sure Her Majesty's Government must be anxious to avoid.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

The best answer which I can give to my noble Friend's first Question is to read a telegram from Sir Evelyn Wood. This telegram does not appear in the Papers which were presented, and which I believe were distributed this afternoon, because it was not received until to-day, after the Papers had gone to the Press. It is as follows:— Mount Prospect, March 22, 11 p.m. informed Boer leaders I was empowered to ratify provisional agreement of 21st, with some slight amendments, which were finally accepted. It was agreed that while British Government guarantees to leaders individually and collectively, and to those under their orders, immunity from civil process for acts done in reference to war until self-government is accorded, the question of compensation to either side for acts not justified by necessities of war be remitted to Commission to judge as to what acts were so justified; also agreed there should be no molestation for political opinion on either side; also that arms taken over by us at annexation should be handed back, any adjustment with respect to moneys paid for such arms being referred to Commission. These amendments being introduced, the agreement of the 21st inst., was ratified and signed by both parties. The second Question which my noble Friend asks is, whether, steps have been taken to bring to justice the perpetrators of the murders of Captain Elliott and Dr. Barber? To that my answer is, that in the agreement which is embodied in the telegram of the 21st of March—as far, of course, as I have the particulars—and which is printed in the Papers, there occurs the following passage:— The Boer leaders stated that they would gladly co-operate with Her Majesty's Government in bringing to justice those who committed, or were directly responsible for, acts contrary to the usages of civilized warfare. That shows that steps will be taken, if evidence can be obtained, to bring the perpetrators of those acts to justice. My noble Friend's third Question is, whether any inquiry will be instituted into the massacre of Colonel Anstruther and the detachment of the 94th Regiment? My noble Friend said that on a former occasion I assented to the word "massacre." I do not remember that; but it is not now of great importance, and I will only say that my answer to the Question is this:—As your Lordships will find from these Papers, a complete amnesty has been promised to all who have committed acts in this war which are not contrary to the, rules of civilized warfare; and, as far as Her Majesty's Government have received information, that amnesty will cover what took place in the action referred to. Perhaps I may be allowed, as I have been asked a Question on this subject, to read another telegram which I have received from Sir Evelyn Wood, and which I think it is only just and fair to him to read at once, because it has reference to a telegram printed in the Papers which have been laid before Parliament, and explains his opinion on a very important matter that will be found in those Papers. The telegram is dated March 23, 11 30 p.m., and Sir Evelyn Wood says— Sincerely grateful to Government for appreciation of efforts in carrying out their wishes. Referring to words, 'happiest results, &c.,' in my telegram of 5th March, I meant that a series of actions fought by six companies could not affect our prestige, but Boer leaders had lit a fire which had got beyond their control, and would be quenched more easily after a British victory; the fire is now out for a time, but Kruger to-day stated the Republic would be ruined if the Commission admitted claims from all forced to aid Boers. In drafting instructions, therefore, the hitherto inert power of the loyalists must be treated as an important factor in the question of a lasting peace. It would be false modesty to conceal belief that personal acquaintance with me has materially aided solution. Uneducated men distrust Governments, but trust persons; therefore Roberts should go himself to Transvaal to get known by the people, the troops, other than those in the Transvaal, being recalled near base, but not from South Africa at present; and it is most important that the Commission should commence at once, being assisted as to boundary questions by a staff of Engineers. As Sir Evelyn Wood refers there to Sir Frederick Roberts, I may state that the Government have already sent instructions to Sir Frederick that in present circumstances it is not necessary that he should proceed to Natal, and Sir Evelyn Wood will be left in command of the troops.