OBSERVATIONS. QUESTION. (Hansard, 15 February 1881)

§ EARL CADOGAN
said, that he was reluctant to trouble their Lordships at the present time with the consideration of the Question he had placed upon the Notice Paper; but statements had been made during the last few days, both by the Prime Minister and the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, in "another place," which had excited considerable attention, and which had induced him to invite the noble Earl the Secretary of State for the Colonies to give some further explanation with regard to the negotiations which had been going on between Her Majesty's Government and President Brand, the President of the Orange Free State, which, if he was rightly informed, had been continued up to a very recent period. Their Lordships were aware that for some time past—he believed since the beginning of last December—a Correspondence had been going on between Her Majesty's Government and the President of the Orange Free State with reference to the terms that would be granted to the Boors. It was not necessary for him to read to their Lordships all the communications and telegrams which had passed on the subject, which were to be found in the Papers which had been recently laid upon the Table of the House. He might, however, state that the first communication reached the Government 877 on December 30, 1880, and was acknowledged on January 1, 1881. A second telegram, communicated by Mr. Blyth, the Consul of the Orange Free State in this country, on the 10th of January, was answered by the Secretary of State, who stated that he "did not despair of being able to make a satisfactory arrangement." Further telegrams and despatches were exchanged till, on January 26, in reply to a telegram from President Brand asking whether— It is not possible to offer to the people of the Transvaal, through the High Commissioner, Sir Hercules Robinson, certain terms and conditions, provided they ceased from armed opposition, the noble Earl stated that "Her Majesty's Government would thereupon frame," not as before stated, merely "a satisfactory arrangement," but "such a scheme as, in their belief, would satisfy all enlightened friends of the Transvaal community." He believed that all noble Lords in that House might claim to be friends of the Transvaal community, even although we had unfortunate differences with them at this moment; but whether they were enlightened or not would depend upon the answer which the noble Earl might give that evening. There was only one more communication of the date of January 29 in the Blue Book; but on Thursday, February 10, Sir George Campbell, in the other House of Parliament, asked the Prime Minister— Whether Her Majesty's Government will now offer to the Boers of the Transvaal the terms which they consider to be just, instead of enforcing unconditional submission before their terms are announced? In reply to that Question, the Prime Minister stated that a second telegram had been received, which was as follows:— In answer to a telegram from Sir George Colley stating that President Brand urged him to state the nature of the scheme mentioned in the previous telegram, and to guarantee that the Boers should not be treated as rebels, if they submitted, Sir George Colley received an instruction of which I shall give the substance. On the 8th instant, from the Cape, he was instructed to inform President Brand that Her Majesty's Government will be ready to give all reasonable guarantees as to the treatment of the Boers after submission, if they desist from armed opposition, and that the scheme will be framed with a view to the permanently friendly settlement of the difficulty; to which he was to add that Her Majesty's Government would he glad if President Brand would communicate to the leaders of the Boers this as well as the former message. 878 The right hon. Gentleman added that it was not certain whether President Brand had communicated those statements in a regular and official manner to the Boers. On Friday last, however, when another Question was put to him on the subject, the right hon. Gentleman stated that— Her Majesty's Government had formally and distinctly requested President Brand to make their communications known to the Boer leaders. He wished to put the House in possession of the substance of all these communications before he put the Question of which he had given Notice to the noble Earl. They must all deprecate the ruinous war which was unfortunately being waged against our brethren in the Transvaal; they must have watched with approval the steps which the Government had taken at the commencement of the hostilities to bring them to a peaceful and an early conclusion; and they must also feel grateful to Her Majesty's Government for the manner in which they had met the overtures of President Brand; but he could not help saying that since the last despatch of the 20th of January was sent the circumstances of the case had undergone a considerable change. Up to that time their policy of conciliation must have been considered proper; but now that the hostilities had assumed an unsuccessful character on the side of our arms, he feared that any attempts at negotiation with the leaders of the Boers might have the appearance of suing for peace. That was a proceeding which he need not remind their Lordships was unknown to British statesmen and commanders. As lately as the 8th of February, and after news had been received of the disaster at Laing's Nek and subsequent disasters, it was clear that communication was kept up with President Brand, who was, in turn, asked to make known the effect of these representations to the leaders of the Boers. He felt it his duty to warn the Government against the danger they would incur in continuing negotiations with the Boers in view of the present aspect of military affairs in the Transvaal. There was a danger that the Boers might continue successfully the operations now proceeding against us, until they saw fit to suspend hostile operations, when they might claim from the noble Earl terms which 879 it was said had been offered to them, but the nature of which had not been made known; and they might do this at a time without our having had an opportunity of repairing the injuries inflicted upon ourselves. The second danger he apprehended was that, whatever might be the result of the war, when the war was brought to a conclusion the noble Earl would find that the Boers of the Transvaal would have a right to claim from him a settlement which he might have offered before hostilities commenced, and which might have been satisfactory at the time; but which would not be satisfactory when the hostilities were brought to a close. He had no wish to embarrass Her Majesty's Government at the present time, and he sincerely hoped that before long-some means might be found of bringing the war to an end, with credit to ourselves, and with advantage to those with whom we wore in conflict. No one would rejoice more than he would if means were found for such a communication. He must express a hope that Her Majesty's Government, while desirous, as they all were, to obtain peace on honourable terms, and not to press too hardly on those with whom we were fighting-, would not be unmindful of the credit and honour of the country, which he must confess would, in his view, be in a considerable degree imperilled if the Government persisted in a course of communication with the loaders of the Boers at a time when our arms had not met with the success which was hoped and anticipated. The noble Earl concluded by asking the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he will state to the House the full text of the despatch referred to by the Prime Minister on Friday last, in which Her Majesty's Government "formally and distinctly requested President Brand to mate their communication known to the Boor leaders;" whether negotiations of the same character are still going on between Her Majesty's Government and the leaders of the Boers; and, if so, whether any such correspondence will be at once communicated to Parliament?

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY
My Lords, I am as anxious as the noble Earl for the honour of the country; but he must allow us who are responsible to form our own opinion and take our own course as to the manner in which the 880 honour and the interests of the country can be best maintained. As regards the Question of the noble Earl, it is in itself very simple, and a very simple answer might be given to it. My noble Friend has asked whether I would state the full text of the despatch which had been sent to President Brand. The noble Earl, however, has himself read the whole of the despatch, and every word of it has also been road by Mr. Gladstone in the House of Commons. Of course it will be included in any Blue Book upon the subject that may be laid upon the Table. The noble Earl read also the previous despatch, and he stated that he thought our proceedings had rather the appearance of suing for peace.

§ EARL CADOGAN
Might have the appearance of suing for peace.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY
If the noble Earl will look at the terms of the telegram itself, he will see that it certainly could not bear the character which he bad given to it. The telegram in question was that of the 26th of January, to Sir George Colley, in answer to a telegram from President Brand, which was communicated by the Consul of the Orange Free State in London, and was to this effect— I have to instruct you to inform President Brand that if armed opposition should at once cease Her Majesty's Government would thereupon endeavour to frame such a scheme as, in their belief, would satisfy all enlightened friends of the Transvaal community. Your Lordships will observe that the condition laid down is, "if armed opposition at once ceases." This is not suing for peace on our part; but it is giving the Transvaal Boers an opportunity of placing themselves in such a position as would be honourable to us and advantageous to themselves. The noble Earl will observe that these propositions have arisen from communications voluntarily made to us by President Brand, and not sought for by us; and we have answered them in a friendly spirit, due to the friendly tone President Brand has adopted, and to the very friendly action he has manifested throughout this unfortunate business. We could scarcely have done less, either with regard to President Brand himself or the friendly relations which have been maintained with the Orange Free State. The last communication to which the noble Earl referred, and which has been read by 881 Mr. Gladstone in the House of Commons, followed naturally on the other communication. President Brand asked for further information on a point as to which it was natural he should feel anxious—namely, whether guarantees would be given, in case armed opposition should cease, as to the safety of those taking part in it, and the answer was that reasonable guarantees would be given. There is nothing, I feel, which I have reason to be ashamed of in these communications, which will, of course, be included in the Papers placed before Parliament. In answer to the noble Earl's further Question— Whether negotiations of the same character are still going on between Her Majesty's Government and the loaders of the Boers; and, if so, whether any such correspondence will be at once communicated to Parliament? I have to say that further communications are going on; but I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject to the House at present.

§ THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD
My Lords, I am sure none of your Lordships would wish that Her Majesty's Government should be put in a position inducing a sentiment of shame. I am sure that was not the wish of my noble Friend in putting his Question, which was one for explanation, and not for the purpose of shaming the Government. What is wanted is information as to the position of this country when Her Majesty's Government are negotiating and making war at the same time. To enter into negotiations when you are waging war unsuccessfully is a perilous process; and I think, therefore, that my noble Friend was justified in the course he has taken in asking for explanations. It is all very well to talk about making the cessation of armed hostility on the part of the Boers a condition of peace; but how can you lay down as a condition that armed hostilities should cease when you yourselves are suffering under a military disaster; and when there is a possibility that those who are authorized may enter into conclusive negotiations without any consideration of the military disasters which, during the interval of negotiations, may have occurred? The possibility of that is one which I am not at all surprised that my noble Friend should regard, with great distrust and apprehension. It is with that feeling that my noble Friend 882 made his inquiry, and I hope good will result from it.