A PLEA FOR PEACE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6593, 19 September 1899, Page 4

A PLEA FOR PEACE

PETITION OF THE DUTCH REFORMED I CHURCH. SIR A. MTLNER'S REPLY. The following "petition, signed by the heads of the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, was recently presented to Sir Alfred Milner :— " To his Excellency Sir Alfred Milner, Governor of the Cape Colony and High Commissioner in South Africa, etc. Sir,— Permit us to approach you as her Majesty's representative, in order to give expression to what we most deeply feel at the present critical juncture in the history of South Africa. The tension between the Dutch and English races in this ooiony and in the .Iransvaal, which has been on the increase of late, has filled us with deep alarm, and this alarm has been steadily growing on account of the warlike attifcdde assumed by an influential portion of the local and the British Press. It would be presumption on our part to suggest either to your Excellency or to the President of the Transvaal Republic, what should be done to avert the evil consequences which may result from this more than strained relationship, nor do we feel justified to tread on political ground, but as men holding a responsible position, in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, as preachers of the gospel of peace, as representing a Church one in creed, language, membership and blood relationship with the burghers of the Transvaal, as loyal subjects of our beloved Queen, we desire to urge upon your Excellency to leave nothing undone which may tend to avert active hostilities. We shudder to think of the consequences which are sure to follow such an eventuality. Race feeling between Dutch and English would be intensified, the breach between the two sections of our South African community would become irreparable, the allegiance of her Majesty's loyal Dutch subjects would sustain the severest shock it has ever been subjected to, and the hope of a united South Africa would be gone for ever. To us standing outside the political arena, the difference between the proposals of your Excellency and those of President Kruger would hardly appear to justify the horrors in which active warfare between her Majes- 1 ty's troops and burghers of the Transvaal Republic would involve the whole of South Africa for many a day. We look upon your Excellency as the instrument which God may use to avert these disasters, and to initiate a period of harmony and peace among the two principal white races of South Africa whereby, your name will be kept in grateful remembrance by succeeding generations in this part of the world. Requesting your Excellency to acquaint her Majesty the Queen with the sentiments expressed by U3, and recommending you to God's gracious guidance.— We have the honour to be, etc., J. H. Hofmeyr, Moderator; A. Moorrees, Assessor; J. J. Kotse, Actuary ; 0. F. J. Muller, Secretary." The following is Sir Alfred Milner's reply:— " Government House, Capetown, July 8, 1899. Sir,— l am directed by his Excellency to acknowledge receipt of a letter of June 30, signed by you as Moderator and by other representatives of the Dutch Reformed Church. Coming from the heads of that great religious community, the communication in question is entitled to receive, and has received, his Excellency's most earnest consideration. His Excellency is transmitting it to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for submission to her Majesty. His Excellency begs to add that his endeavours will continue to be directed to attaining a pacific solution of the political troubles at present agitating South Africa. Of such ! a solution ho does not despair. His Excellency is satisfied that a potent cause of the present unrest is the fact that a large and influential section of the white population of the Transvaal is deprived of all share in the government of the country, and is suffering from a sense of inequality and injustice. He believes that in seeking a remedy for this state of things he is trying to remove the greatest stumbling block to the good feeling and harmonious co-operation of the two principal white races of South Africa, upon which the welfare of the country depends. He feels sure that whatever may be thought of his particular proposals, the object of his endeavours at least will have your sympathy. — I am, etc., O. Walrond, Private Secretary, i. H. Hofmeyr, Moderator."