he matter could be set going. We
naturally cannot bind the British Government to accept our
explanations; but it is in any case a basis.

Lord MILNER: I am very anxious that these discussions should not end
in smoke, and would not allow any formal point to stand in the way;
but to depart from the definite proposals of Middelburg (March 7th,
1901) to a thing like this, and to begin discussions anew thereon on
something that is very vague, will certainly land us in difficulties.
I believe that we are entitled to hold you to the Middelburg
proposals, which we can modify as far as details are concerned.

General BOTHA: Perhaps it will be well that you first reply to our
proposal.

Chief Commandant DE WET: I understand that unless Your Excellencies
are prepared to give a final answer to our proposals it would not be
unreasonable of us to request that you first submit them to your
Government.

General BOTHA: We have come here with the earnest desire to conclude
peace, and I think that if our proposal is developed Boer and Briton
will be able to live here side by side; and I assume that it is the
desire of both parties not to suppress one race. We wish to conclude a
peace, with which both parties are satisfied, and which will be
permanent in South Africa.

Lord MILNER: Our object is the same.

Lord KITCHENER: Your proposal will cause important alterations in our
proposals, to which we, in my opinion, cannot agree.

General BOTHA: I think that especially because a proposal has been
made from your side you must give a decided answer to our proposal.

Lord KITCHENER and Lord MILNER: Then alter your proposal into ours.

Lord MILNER: I do not believe that the British Government is prepared
to go further to meet you than they have gone in their last proposals.
In their opinion they went far on the way to peace, further than the
views of the British public.

Lord KITCHENER: The difference between our proposals, appears to me,
to be too wide.

General BOTHA: We always remain under the supervision of the British
Government.

Lord KITCHENER: Will you then consider yourselves as British subjects?
"Supervision" is a new word, and "Suzerainty" has given us too much
trouble.

General HERTZOG: The idea is not so new. There are, indeed, various
kinds of States which all belong to the British Empire, Basutoland,
for instance.

Lord MILNER: There are various kinds, but this is a new kind.

General HERTZOG: I trust Your Exce