F.R.{27}

We will all drink a glass along o’ you.

L.P.{28}

31st, 11.30.  Kruger has asked for some of us to go over and treat:  armistice for 24 hours agreed to.  My view is that they are in a funk at Pretoria, and they were wrong to agree from here.

F.R.{27}

DR. JAMESON.

[Illustration.  Caption:  The above are reproductions of photographs of the documents now in possession of the Transvaal Government.  For the report of the expert, Mr. T.H.  Gurrin, as submitted to the Select Committee of the House of Commons, see Appendix L.]

It may be noted that the tone of this correspondence does not appear to be in accord with the attitude taken up by the Reform Committee.  The letters however were written on Tuesday the 31st, when there was a general belief that Dr. Jameson had started in good faith, misled by some false reports.  In the second letter Colonel Rhodes expresses the opinion that it was wrong to agree to send in a deputation to meet the Government.  This was written before the deputation had gone to Pretoria, and clearly implies that the moral effect of treating would be bad.  The phrasing also shows that the so-called armistice was for the purpose of treating, and not the treating for the purpose of securing an armistice:  in other words, that the armistice would expire, and not commence, with the treating.

From the evidence given by the cyclist Rowland, it appears that he stated to Dr. Jameson that he could get 2,000{29} armed men to go out to his assistance; and Rowland in evidence alleged further that there was some offer of assistance in one of the despatches, and that Dr. Jameson, in reply, said he did not need any assistance, but that if 2,000 men should come out probably the Boers would draw off.  This witness in his evidence at Bow Street also alleged that one of the despatches expressed surprise at Dr. Jameson’s movement.  There is now a complete record of these despatches.  They make no allusions to giving assistance, and the Johannesburg leaders are very clear on the point that no promise or offer of assistance was ever made.  The reply which Dr. Jameson caused to be sent was concealed in one of the bicycles, which were seized by the Boer authorities on the return ride of the despatch-carriers, and was not brought to light until the following March, when a mechanic who was repairing the broken bicycle discovered it.

The much-debated question of whether assistance was ever promised or expected should be finally disposed of by the publication of two documents which have not heretofore appeared in print.  They are (a) the reply of Dr. Jameson to Colonel Rhodes’ letters, and (b) the report of Mr. Celliers, the cyclist despatch-rider who took the letter and received the reply, which report was taken down in shorthand by the clerks in the Reform Committee room as it was made verbally by him immediately on his return.  Both these records dispose of Mr. Rowland’s statement about 2,000 men; and apart from this it should be observed that Mr. Celliers was the messenger sent by Colonel Rhodes and not Mr. Rowland; the latter having been later on picked up ‘for company,’ was presumably less qualified to speak about the instructions and messages than Celliers, from whom indeed he learned all that he knew.