The last-named made a proposal, which was seconded by General C.H.Olivier.

This proposal, after it had been subjected for revision to a Commission, consisting of the two Presidents, Mr.Reitz, and Judge Hertzog, was accepted on the following day.

It ran as follows:-- "The Governments of the South African Republic and of the Orange Free State, having met, induced thereto by the receipt, from His Excellency Lord Kitchener, of the correspondence exchanged in Europe between the Government of His Majesty the King of England, and that of Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, referring to the desirability of giving to the Governments of these Republics an opportunity to come into communication with their plenipotentiaries in Europe, who still enjoy the trust of both Governments: "And taking into consideration the conciliatory spirit which, as it appears from this correspondence, inspires the Government of His Britannic Majesty, and also of the desire therein uttered by Lord Lansdowne, in the name of his Government, to make an end to this strife: "Are of opinion that it is now a favourable moment to again shew their readiness to do everything possible to bring this war to an end: "And decide, therefore to make certain proposals to His Excellency Lord Kitchener, as representative of the Government of His Britannic Majesty, which may serve as a basis for further negotiations, having in view the achievement of the desired peace.
"Further, it is the opinion of these two Governments that, in order to expedite the achievement of the desired aim, and to prevent, as far as possible, any misunderstanding, His Excellency Lord Kitchener should be asked to meet personally these Governments at a time and place by him appointed, so that the said Governments may lay before him Peace Proposals (as they will be prepared to do), in order that, by direct conversation and discussion with him, all such questions as shall arise may be solved at once, and also that this meeting may further and bring about the desired result." A letter was now written to Lord Kitchener (who was at Pretoria) enclosing the above Proposal, and signed by the two Presidents.
In the afternoon the two Governments met again, to consider what proposals they should make to the British Government.

After a lengthy discussion, it was decided, on the proposal of General De la Rey, seconded by States-Procureur L.Jacobsz, that the matter in hand should be entrusted to the Commission, which consisted, as I have already said, of the two Presidents, States-Secretary Reitz, and Judge Hertzog: and the next morning this Commission handed in the following report, which was accepted by the meeting:-- "The Commission, after having taken into consideration the wish of the meeting, namely, that proposals should be drafted (in connexion with the letter of yesterday, signed by the two Presidents, to His Excellency Lord Kitchener) for eventual consideration by His Excellency Lord Kitchener, proposes the following points:-- "1.

The concluding of a Treaty of Friendship and Peace, including: "(_a_) Arrangements _re_ a Customs Union.
"(_b_) " _re_ Post, Telegraph and Railway Union.
"(_c_) Granting of the Franchise.
"2.