Mr. Choate to Mr. Hay.

No. 542.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a notice which appeared in the London Gazette of the 9th instant, announcing the appointment of a commission for investigating the claims to compensation which have been or may be made by persons the subjects of friendly powers in consequence of their deportation to Europe by the British military authorities in South Africa.

I have, etc.,

Joseph H. Choate.
[Inclosure.—Extract from The London Gazette of Tuesday, April 9, 1901.]

It is hereby notified for public information that the Marquis of Lansdowne, K. G., His Majesty’s principal secretary of state for foreign affairs, has appointed a commission for the purpose of investigating the claims to compensation which have been or may be made by persons the subjects of various friendly powers in consequence of their deportation to Europe by the British military authorities in South Africa.

The following gentlemen have been appointed commissioners:

Thomas Mil vain, esq., K. C, chancellor of the County Palatine of Durham; Maj. Gen. J. Upton Prior; Maj. Gen. the Honorable H. F. Eaton; C. A. Wilkins, esq., [Page 217] late judge of the high court, Calcutta; R. K. Loveday, esq., formerly a member of the Volksraad of the late South African Republic.

The commission will consider the various claims which have been already brought to the notice of His Majesty’s Government, together with such others as may be presented to them hereafter by or on behalf of the claimants. They will meet in London and after hearing the cases submitted to them will proceed to South Africa with a view to continuing their investigations on the spot, and on their return to London will take any further evidence which these investigations may have shown to be necessary.

Due notice will be given in the London Gazette of the date on which the commission will open its sittings.

It will be competent for the claimants to appear either in person or by counsel, and also for their respective Governments to be represented if they think fit before the commission.

All claims should be filed at the foreign office on or before the 25th instant.