SOUTH AFRICA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4819, 24 November 1902, Page 5

SOUTH AFRICA.

CABLE NEVm.

cnkes pmss association. —by electric TiiLYUP.AIMi. —•COPYRIGHT.

MR CHAMBERLAIN AND THE BOER GENERALS. (Received November 23, 4.55 pan.) LONDON, November 22. A Blue Book which has been issued shows that Mr Chamberlain on IHe oth inst. challenged the statements of the Boer Generals on tho subject cf relief, as made in their Continental speeches. Tho cost of tho burghers’ camps—which had now become organisations - o enable them to return to their homos — had been £200,000 per month, which was homo by the British Government. Replying to a speech delivered by General Botha in Paris in which ho stated that Lord Kitchener had used the sufferings of tho women and children to induce their relations to surrender, Mr Chamberlain urged that nothing was spared that science and money were capable of achieving to reduce the mortality in the camps. Statistics proved that at tho moment t-f surrender thcro was no sauso for anxiety as to tho conditions of the occupants of the camps. No request was made at Vcrccniging, Mr Chamberlain stated, for special provision for women, and orphans. Quoting the Yorconiging disposal of free grants, which ho claims to be unprecedented in tho history of llio world, Mr Chamberlain said that if more money wore required there was a source whence a substantial addition might fairly bo expected. That was tho unspent balance of large remittances sent from the Transyaal to Europe. Mr Chamberlain said that Groat Britain, as successor to tho Republics, was entitled to such balance, and ho invited General. Botha to co-operate in finding to whom tho money was entrusted, and in obtaining a statement of acoomits.

Tlio colonial Government, ho said, had assumed entire responsibility for tho maintenance of tho destitute and orphans, and suitable provision would ho mado for widows. If there wore abundant rain and extensive cultivation by the end of a year, it would bo tho prelude to a degree of prosperity in no wise inferior to that prior to tho war. On tho 12th inst. General Botha sent a conciliatory reply. Ho said that had tho Boer Generals at tho London conference received an assurance that tho Government would undertake full responsibility for tho widows and orphans anti destitute, their appeal would never ha-vo been issued in its present form. They had originally interpreted the free grants as not providing for anytiling, apart from war losses, for widows, orpiians and destitute. ■Ho was glad to learn from a recent speech that tho Government would undertake fuller responsibility towards the necessitous and tho injured, and also respecting the conditions of loans. General Botha stated that ho had no knowledge of tho funds remitted to Europe. Ho hoped that Mr Chamberlain's tour would bo a step towards tho restoration peace and prosperity, which ho was sure Mr Chamberlain desired to promote. ’ {Received November 1.7 a.in.l LONDON, November 23. ■ Reutfer’s Brussels correspondent states that Messrs Fischer, Wcssclls and Wolrnarans will bo allowed to proceed to Capetown upon {hair taking tlio oatb of allegiance to Great Britain and undertaking to abstain from politics in future. Permission to return, to the Transvaal has been refused. SECRET SERVICE FUNDS. (Received November 23, 5.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. Tlio “Daily Mail” alleges that a million of tho Transvaal funds remitted to Europe have been traced to the hands of Dr Leyds and Mr Kruger, who are retaining it for tho purpose of fostering political agitation. The paper also adds that tlio Boor Generals consented to Mr Kruger and Dr Leyds retaining two suras'of three-quarters of a million and a quarter of a million for the purposes of intrigue, THE CAPE COLONY REBELS. (Received November 22, 7.1 p.m.) LONDON, November 21. There are persistent rumours that a general amnesty will bo granted to rebels upon Mr Chamberlain’s arrival in South Africa. CAPETOWN, .November 21.. Tho artisans on tho Randl are demanding a nino instead' of a ton-hour working day. • LONDON, November 21. The “ Daily Mail ” states that tho Board of Trade is despatching Commissioners to South Africa to inquire as to openings for trade.