Lord Salisbury's reply is one of the ablest and most
satis- factory State Papers ever despatched by a British Govern- ment. It gives in a compact form the history and the justification for the war. Her Majesty's dominions were invaded by the two Republics, " siege was laid to three towns within the British frontier, a large portion of the two Colonies was overrun, with great destruction to property and life, and the Republics claimed to treat the inhabitants of extensive portions of her Majesty's do- minions as if those dominions had been annexed to one or other of them." Lord Salisbury goes on to point out how the "Empire has been compelled to confront an invasion which has entailed upon it a costly war and the loss of thousands of precious lives." The telegram ends:—" This great calamity has been the penalty which Great Britain has suffered for having in recent years acquiesced in the existence of the two Republic', In view of the use to which the two Republica have put the position which was given to them, and the calamities which their unprovoked attack has inflicted upon her Majesty's
dominions, her Majesty's Government can only answer your Honoara' telegram by saying that they are not prepared to assent to the independence either of the South African Republic or of the Orange Free State."
