Steyn,
summoning me to him. I had thus to abandon my idea of visiting General
De la Rey; instead of this, I wrote him a letter requesting him to come
to the President. I also sent for Judge Hertzog.

De la Rey was the first to arrive, and, without waiting for Judge
Hertzog, we at once proceeded to take into consideration the following
letter from the Government of the South African Republic.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES,
IN THE FIELD,
District Ermelo,
South African Republic,
_May 10th, 1901_.

TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARY, O.F.S.

SIR,--

I have the honour to report to you that to-day the following
officers met the Government, namely, the Commandant-General,
General B. Viljoen, General J.C. Smuts (Staats-Procureur), the
last-named representing the western districts. Our situation was
seriously discussed, and, among others, the following facts were
pointed out:--

1. That small parties of burghers are still continually laying down
their arms, and that the danger arising from this is becoming every
day more threatening, namely, that we are exposed to the risk of
our campaign ending in disgrace, as the consequence of these
surrenders may be that the Government and the officers will be left
in the field without any burghers, and that, therefore, heavy
responsibility rests upon the Government and War Officers, as they
represent the nation and not themselves only.

2. That our ammunition is so exhausted that no battle of any
importance can be fought, and that this lack of ammunition will
soon bring us to the necessity of flying helplessly before the
enemy. And that through this same lack it has become impossible for
us to afford adequate protection to our people and their cattle,
with the result that the general population is being reduced to
poverty and despair, and that even the troops will soon be unable
to be supplied with provisions.

3. That through the above-mentioned conditions the authority of the
Government is becoming more and more weakened, and that thus the
danger arises of the people losing all respect and reverence for
lawful authority, and falling into a condition of lawlessness. And
that to prolong the war can only lead to hastening the ruin of the
people, and making it clear to them that the only authority in the
country