Lord Milner: If we agree, it is the English document that will be telegraphed to England, and it is that document upon which His Majesty's Government will decide and which will be signed.
General Botha: Will a Dutch translation not be attached to it?
Lord Milner: I have no objection that a Dutch translation be annexed. Well, that is the document that we are prepared to submit to the British Government.
General Botha: There are a few points I wish to talk about. The first is with reference to receipts given by our officers. I would like to have them added to the paragraph referring to the Government notes. These receipts were given on instructions issued by our Government for the purchase of cattle or grain or necessaries, for the support of our commandos, and the chief officers now here, as well as all other officers, have acted in accordance with these instructions and issued receipts. For this reason, I make this request. Some of these receipts were discharged in full, and others in part, in Government notes, but many were not paid at all. I do not think that the amount is large, but it will strengthen our hands by enabling us honourably to terminate this matter, because our honour is in so far concerned that we have signed these receipts. It will be a great point for us if we can meet the delegates, most of whom are officers, and inform them that they have been protected in this matter.
Lord Kitchener: I understand that General Botha does not refer to commandeer, or requisition notes, but only to actual receipts given on the Treasury.
Lord Milner: I do not see the difference between these receipts and commandeer notes. The willingness of people to sell goods does not in my opinion make any difference in a legal document.
Lord Kitchener: I think that it does make a difference if it is an order on the Treasury or a requisition note. I should limit this to receipts on the Treasury, issued in accordance with the law, which allowed that a certain sum could be spent.
Chief Commandant de Wet: In the Free State no resolution was taken fixing the amount that could be spent.
Lord Kitchener: Do you mean that this is an undefined amount, or that it falls under the amount fixed by the Volksraad?
General Smuts: The Volksraad authorised the Government to issue notes to a certain amount, which was done. Apart from this law, the officers in the field had the right to make purchases on behalf of the commandos and to grant receipts therefor.