Ambassador Choate to the Secretary of State.

No. 1276.]

Sir: In my dispatch, No. 1272, of the 4th instant, in relation to certain bonds issued by the late South African republic alleged to have been purchased by William H. McGreevy, I stated that possibly Lord Lansdowne might have something further to add later than his note of December 29. I have therefore the honor to inclose a copy of his lordship’s note of the 6th instant in reply to one from me of the 18th ultimo, a copy of which is also herewith inclosed.

It will be observed that his lordship expresses the hope that the information contained in his communication of the 29th ultimo, above mentioned, will be found to contain the particulars requested by the department, but states that further inquiries will be made if desired.

As throwing some further light upon the interpretation of Clause II of section 10 of the terms of surrender, copies of which I inclosed in my last dispatch, with regard to the validity of the notes issued under law No. 1 of 1900 of the late South African republic, I inclose a copy of a note from Mr. Malcolm, of the colonial office, to Mr. Carter, dated the 9th instant, in which it is stated that the notes are not legal tender or negotiable or good for any purposes except as evidence of war losses suffered by the persons to whom they were originally issued, and that they may therefore be submitted as evidence by the original holder to the central judicial commission now sitting at Pretoria, the authority which, in the case of an American citizen, assesses his claim for compensation for war losses.

It is also stated that this commission will probably conclude their sessions in two or three months, as apparently they have called in all claims by notice, and it only remains to assess those which have not yet been assessed.

I have, etc.,

Joseph H. Choate.
[Inclosure 1.]

Ambassador Choate to the Marquis of Lansdowne.

My Lord: Referring to our conversation of Wednesday last, in which I made an informal request for information concerning certain bonds of the late South African Republic, I now put the inquiry in writing, as you suggested. The [Page 795] notes or bonds inquired about were issued by the Government of the South African Republic and dated May 28, 1900, and numbered as follows: Nos. 12397, 14236, 4000, 1151, 14136, 14489, 13915, 2110, 16098, value £1 each; Nos. 11603 and 1210, value £5 each; and Nos. 2461, 6840, 2155, 1795, 7281, value £10 each; and Nos. 4078, 2062, 2075, value £20 each; Nos. 305, 306, and 1299, £50 each; and Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, £100 each; and also notes dated April 1, 1901, Nos. 11004A, 10866A, 21553A, and 35247A, value £1 each, all bearing interest at 6 per cent and amounting, with interest, to £800 and upward. It has been represented to the State Department that by the terms of peace between Great Britain and the Boer authorities it was agreed that these bonds, among others, should be paid by the British Government, and on that point I have been unable to obtain information.

It has also been represented to the State Department that His Majesty’s Government are paying these bonds in accordance with the terms of the treaty of peace. In view of these representations, I shall be greatly obliged if your lordship will kindly furnish me with any information that may be available as to their correctness, and whether the terms of the treaty of peace make any representation as to bonds or obligations in which these might be included, and whether any such bonds have been paid by our Government.

I understand that bond No. 14489 was probably intended to be 13489, and 35247A was probably intended to be 35248A.

I have, etc.,

Joseph H. Choate.
[Inclosure 2.]

Lord Lansdowne to Ambassador Choate.

Your Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 18th ultimo, in which you inquire whether certain bonds issued by the Government of the late South African Republic will be paid by His Majesty’s Government.

I beg leave to refer your excellency to my note of the 29th ultimo, in answer to your inquiry of the 3d ultimo, which will, I hope, be found to contain the required particulars. If there are, however, any points which are not covered by the information in my above-mentioned note, I shall be happy to make further inquiries.

I have, etc.,

Lansdowne.
[Inclosure 3.]

Mr. Malcolm to Mr. Carter.

My Dear Carter: Farnall has handed me your note to him of to-day. The commission to which yon refer is the central judicial commission at Pretoria. It is still sitting, though how long it will continue to sit I can’t say. I hope not more than two or three months, as they have called in all claims by notice, and it only remains to assess those which have not yet been assessed.

The rule with regard to notes issued under law No. 1 of 1900 of the late South African Republic is that they are not legal tender, or negotiable, or good for any purpose except as evidence of war losses suffered by the persons to whom they were originally issued. (See as to this Article X of the terms of surrender order of the Boer forces, of which you have copies, no doubt.) They may therefore be submitted as evidence, just like any other evidence, by the original holder to the body which assesses his claim for compensation for war losses. In the case of an American subject this body would be the central judicial commission.

Yours, sincerely,

D. O. Malcolm.