We have, &c.,
(Signed)
Louis Botha,
C. R. de Wet,
J. H. de la Rey,
J. B. M. Hertzog,
J. C. Smuts.
Acting President S. W. Burger said: If some point or other in the documents that have just been read to you is not clear, one or other of the members of the Commission will give the necessary explanations. You will observe that the Commission tried to negotiate more or less in the spirit of this meeting. The Representatives of the British Government declared that they could not negotiate on any other basis than the surrender of the independence. We have now before us a document upon which the British Government thinks peace can be concluded. The question before us now is: how must we set to work? I think there are three courses open to us upon which we must decide before Saturday evening. The three courses are:—
(1) To continue the struggle. Is this possible for us under the circumstances in which we find ourselves; what are the prospects; and what will the consequences be? This we must consider.
(2) Accept the proposal of the British Government and conclude peace thereon.
(3) Surrender unconditionally.
On these questions the Meeting must now decide.
On the proposal of General S. P. du Toit, seconded by Commandant Mentz, it was resolved that minutes of the discussions be kept as briefly as possible, and also that all proposals and resolutions be recorded.
Mr. J. de Clercq (Middelburg): I would like to have some elucidation of Clause 2. Whom does it include?
General Smuts: The words are: "in the veld." It is thus plain that other persons are not included in it.
Mr. de Clercq: What, then, becomes of persons who have been banished?