MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies, can he say what the specific terms of peace were which Sir Alfred Milner states, in his despatch of 6th February, 1901, had been offered by Lord Kitchener and were generally regarded as a generous and statesmanlike offer, and one which, if firmly adhered to, would ultimately be accepted; were these terms identical with those subsequently offered by Lord Kitchener, in his letter to General Botha on 7th March, 1901, and rejected by General Botha on 16th March, 1901; and, if they were not identical, can he say in what respect the terms of 7th March, 1901, differed from those offered previous to 6th February, 1901.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN, Birmingham, W.)The terms referred to by Sir A. Milner in the despatch referred to are those stated in his telegram of 12th January and in Lord Kitchener's speech at a meeting of the Burgher Peace Committee, which will be found at page 28 and page 58 of Parliamentary Paper, Cd. 547. The offer made to Commandant Botha as the condition for a 1136 general pacification was more extended and more definite, but as it was rejected by Commandant Botha His Majesty's Government are no longer bound by it.