Marwapuxe" includes in his letter in the last Truth another letter from Mr. Charles Durant, son-in-law of Sir Hercules Ro-vinson, dated Government "House, Cape Town, 13th February On my return from Johannesburg a fortnight ago I was surprised to find how intense an' interest people in Europe seem to have taken in the Transvaal crisis. The accounts in European newspapers, written at ease in London or Berlin, are really more surprising and sensational than my chronicle of events, Johannesburg was becoming quiet, but the educed on the spot, can be. When I left, Boers were still suspicious that all the rifles were not surrendered on that memorable Tuesday, the 7th of January, and were still searching the mines.
Before leaving Pretoria I was twice at the modest house of President Kriiger and had conversations with him. He must-be.a more astute diplomatist than is generally imagined; but he was exasperated st Jameson's expedition over the border, and expressed himself to me very freely and with considerable acerbity with regard to the officials of the Chartered Company. The President said the real turning-point in the crisis was the 7th of January, when Johannesburg consented to capitulate unconditionally. If the inhabitants had not done this, there would have been a Positive massacre, followed by a period of chaos in South Africa.
The grim old President had not then decided upon Jameson's fate, and he had great difficulty with the Boer Commandants at first, for they wanted to court-martial and shoot Dr. Jameson, His clemency showed great wisdom and astuteness when under severe Ronesty and good faith of the British High revocation, Wut he had great belief in. the Commissioner.
Altogether, is was a very interesting experience, and I was fortunate to have been in the middle of everything that was going on in the Transvaal at So exciting a period, It would bea long story to relate, and, as people and events move very fast nowadays, perhaps the interest has diminished somewhat in England. But in South Africa people still feel and talk strongly; and the Boers, you may' sure, will watch very keenly for the results of tite trial and enquiry, and so will the people of the Orange Free State. Sorry as every one must be for the poor fellows who were Killed and wounded in the extraordinary affair, it would have been worse than it is had Dr, Jameson succeeded in getting into Johannes burg. With the opportunities I had for know. ing everything which was going on, 1 feel shelled and utterly destroyed, and what would certain that the town would have been promptly have happened then and after?
While some of the papers enlarge on the fact that Captain Cronje agreed that the lives of the raiders should be spared if they surrendered, others take the view that "it would be unworthy to seek to take advantage of any unauthorised overtures which may have been made by the President's subordinates" (Daily Telegraph). The Times says The facts of the surrender of Dr. Jameson and his force at Krugersdorp, according to the account given by the Transvaal Govern-trent, wore fully explained yesterday in the House of Commons by Mr. Chamberlain, As the circumstances to which Mr, Chamberlain referred have no bearing on the issues that will have to be decided in the coming trial, we are not bound to observe a reticence which, in other respects, we regard as strictly obligatory. Three lengthy telegrams from Sir Brerosies Robinson contain a statement of the position taken up by President, Kriger which is accepted, in its full extent, by the Secretary for the Colonies. He has arrived, consequently, at these conclusions—that the Commadants of the Boer forces had distinct orders to. insist on unconditional surrender" "that, notwithstanding. this, one of the Commandants, probably Me, Cronje, did offer to Sir John Willoughby and his men that their lives would be spared if they laid down their arms and promised an indemnity that "in doing so he exceeded his instructions," and that "the President now states that he knew nothing of the matter." So far as President Kriiger's good faith is concerned, Mr. Chamberlain's acceptance of the ofclal explanation telegraphed from Pretoria is reasonable and proper. But, looking at the matter as a whole, there is still much to be cleared up before it can be admitted that Commandant Cronje did not offer terms of surrender binding on the Boor forces and the Government at Pretoria.
While the following is the view taken by the Daily Chrowicle CommaStont'°Groaje offered conditions un-In regard to Dr. Jameson, apparently one Known to the President, who remained entirely unpledged. What followed we all know. Nota hair on an Englishman's head was touched, though every life in Jameson's troop was justly forfeit. The Johannesburgers in Pretoria, in spite of the lies that have been rained on the Press, have been treated, pending judgment, with the utmost leniency, and as prisoners lying under such a charge in this country would certainly not have been treated, Mr. Chamberlain, with a frankness that does him the utmost honour, awards Mr. credit that every decent Englishman will
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.