The want has been repeatedly expressed of an official publication of the Minutes of the Negotiations which led to the Peace concluded at Vereeniging on May 31, 1902, events which have hitherto been a closed page in the history of the Boer War. As the Republics had ceased to exist, the question arose: Who could publish such Minutes? It is true that some very incomplete Minutes appeared in General de Wet's book, but although they were in all probability reliable, yet they had not the seal of an of

Dear Reader, In connection with the publication, by the Rev. J. D. Kestell and Mr. D. E. van Velden, of the official minutes of the Peace Negotiations (together with the official correspondence relating thereto) between the British Government and the Governments of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic, which terminated in the Peace concluded at Vereeniging on May 31, 1902, I do not wish in this introduction to enter into details, but merely to confine my remarks to the great resp

In response to wishes very generally expressed, an English translation of "De Vredesonderhandelingen tusschen Boer en Brit in Zuid Afrika" (The Peace Negotiations between Boer and Briton in South Africa) is now placed before the Public. Though the greatest care has been taken to ensure that the translation conveys to the reader exactly what the Dutch original contains, the latter remains the official record, from the Boer side, of the Peace Negotiations. The translator accepts all responsibility

Preliminary Correspondence. Army Headquarters, South Africa. Pretoria, March 4, 1902 . Your Honour, By direction of His Majesty's Government, I have the honour to forward enclosed copy of an Aide-Mémoire communicated by the Netherlands Minister to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, together with his reply thereto. I have the honour to be, Your Honour's obedient servant, Kitchener , General, Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa . To His Honour, Mr. Schalk Burger. To His Honour, Mr. Schalk B

Proceedings at Klerksdorp. On April 6th the Government of the South African Republic left Kroonstad by rail, and arrived at Klerksdorp the next day, where they received the letter from President Steyn, mentioned above, as well as the following from General de la Rey:— In the Veld, April 7, 1902 . His Honour The Acting State President, S.A.R., Klerksdorp. Your Honour , I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Honour's telegram forwarded to me by His Excellency Lord Kitchener. I leave

First Negotiations at Pretoria. Early the next morning, Saturday, April 12th, 1902, the two Republican Governments, travelling in separate trains, arrived at Pretoria, and at nine o'clock a meeting with Lord Kitchener took place in his house. Lord Kitchener expressed the desire that they should first confer informally, and that the Secretaries should withdraw. The Secretaries then left the chamber, and therefore the discussion that ensued between Lord Kitchener and the Governments cannot be comm

Vereeniging. On the morning of Thursday, May 15th, 1902, the members of both the Governments and all the delegates had arrived at Vereeniging, and business was at once proceeded with. Tents, &c., had been pitched there by Lord Kitchener for their accommodation during the deliberations. In the middle of this camp stood a large tent, which could easily accommodate the sixty representatives, and the members of the Republican Governments. On the one side were the tents for the Government and

Further Negotiations at Pretoria. Conference between the Commission appointed to represent the meeting of Delegates at Vereeniging, and Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner. Lord Kitchener was informed that the Meeting representing the two Republics had delegated Commandant General Louis Botha, Chief Commandant C. R. de Wet, General J. H. de la Rey, General J. C. Smuts, and General J. B. M. Hertzog to confer with the representatives of the British Government, and in the afternoon of Saturday, May 17,

Vereeniging and Peace. Minutes of the meeting of the Special Delegates at Vereeniging, South African Republic, on Thursday, May 29, 1902, and following days . The Meeting commenced at 9 a.m., and, at the request of the Chairman, was opened with Prayer by the Rev. J. D. Kestell. Having declared the Meeting open, the Chairman requested the Commission, which had been delegated to negotiate with Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner, to report on what they had done. The acting State President S. W. Burger,

The Middelburg Proposals. Pretoria, March 7, 1901. Your Honour, With reference to your conversation at Middelburg on February 28, I have the honour to inform you that, in the event of a general and complete cessation of hostilities, and the surrender of all rifles, ammunition, cannon, and other munitions of war in the hands of the burghers, or in Government depôts or elsewhere, His Majesty's Government is prepared to adopt the following measures:— His Majesty's Government will at once grant an a