eans shall be found for dealing
effectually with: (1) The ringleaders and promoters; (2) those
who have committed outrages or looted the property of their loyal
fellow-subjects; (3) those who have committed acts contrary to
the usages of civilised warfare, such as abuse of the white flag,
firing on hospitals, etc. There remain (4) those who, though not
guilty, of either of those offences, have openly and willingly
waged war against Her Majesty's forces; (5) those who confined
themselves to aiding Her Majesty's enemies by giving information
or furnishing provisions; and (6) those who can satisfactorily
prove that they acted under compulsion. In the opinion of Her
Majesty's Government a distinction ought to be, if possible,
drawn between these different classes.

"Her Majesty's Government recognise the difficulty of indicting
for high treason all who have taken part with the enemy, and they
would suggest, for the consideration of your ministers, the
expediency of investing either the Special Judicial Commission
which, as stated in your telegram of 28th April, is contemplated
by your ministers, or a separate Commission, with powers to
schedule the names of all persons implicated in the rebellion
under the various heads indicated above. It would be necessary
to decide beforehand how the different categories should then be
dealt with. As regards 1, 2, and 3, they would, of course, be
brought before the Judicial Commission and tried by them. Might
not 4 and 5 be allowed to plead guilty, and be thereupon either
sentenced to a fine carrying with it disfranchisement, or
released on recognisances, to come up for judgment when called
upon (this also to involve disfranchisement), while 6 might be
subjected to disfranchisement alone? Her Majesty's Government
offer these as suggestions for the consideration of your
ministers.

"In regard to the reasons urged by your ministers in favour of a
general amnesty, Her Majesty's Government would point out that
they are of a highly controversial character, and it is
impossible to discuss them fully at a moment when an indication
of the views of Her Majesty's Government is urgently required.
Her Majesty's Government would only observe that the policy which
they have indicated in this telegram appears to them t