Chief Commandant DE WET: I did not wish to remain silent on this point, because there was only the word of Lord Kitchener and no other guarantee that other persons will not be prosecuted. I, of course, entirely believe what Generals Botha and Smuts have stated. General HERTZOG: I am fully satisfied on this point. Mr. C. BIRKENSTOCK (Vryheid) asked with reference to Clause 1 whether having regard to the large number of Kaffirs in many districts it would not be dangerous for the burghers to part with all their arms. General BOTHA replied that the Commission had seen Lord Kitchener informally on this point, and pointed out this danger to him, and he had then agreed that in the districts on the boundaries where there were many Kaffirs, the landed proprietors and their sons could retain their arms under a licence, and that if there was a laying down of arms, he would send persons immediately to return the arms to these landed proprietors under a licence. General DE LA REY: On this point I spoke out freely to Lord Kitchener. I said that I would never agree that burghers in the frontier districts should be entirely disarmed, and thus made lower than the Kaffirs. Lord Kitchener then said that he would take the arms from landed proprietors with one hand and return them immediately with the other. Mr. BIRKENSTOCK: Clause 2 says: "The prisoners of war will gradually be brought back to their homes." Has a time been fixed, or will it be done in the course of years? I have heard that the British have an objection to sending back 30,000 persons. General SMUTS: The Committee tried to get a time fixed within which all prisoners of war must be brought back, but the British had a great objection to binding themselves, because it would depend upon the number of transport ships they would be able to obtain to convey the 30,000 prisoners of war back, and also because it would not be advisable on account of the scarcity of food in the two Republics to bring back so many people at once. The meeting then adjourned till two o'clock in the afternoon, when the proceedings were resumed. Mr. L. JACOBSZ: Does Clause 2 provide for the return of the deputation and other persons in Europe? General SMUTS: The members of our deputation and other burghers in Europe, if they wish to return, also fall under this Clause. Mr. BIRKENSTOCK: What property is referred to in Clause 3? General SMUTS: The word "property" includes every form of property. Commandant VAN NIEKERK (Kroonstad): What course will be pursued with reference to the farms which have been sold? Mr. J. L. GROBLER (Carolina): How many farms have been sold? General SMUTS: Twenty farms, as stated unofficially. Mr. J. L. GROBLER: Where? General SMUTS: In the Orange Free State.