The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-16
EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE.
Our Government Urging fits Good
Ofices-Not a Prefer OF Mediation

S@A
Onices-Not a Prefer OF Mediation.
Washington. March i2-There is rea-
son to believe that the United States
government is urging its good offices
TO restore peace between Great Britain
and the South African republics This
has not taken the shape Of a proTer
OF mediation. That would be distinct
iy repugnant to Great Britain. and.
according TO the rule OF International
law which has. without exception. gov
erned the state department In che past.
could not be volunteered by CS until il
was known to be acceptable to both
parties TO the a but the United
States might very properly serve as an
intermediary TO transmit an appeal for
peace and the terms upon which peace
can be secured.
The United States has successfully
served in this capacity in the past. no
tably in the termination OF the China
Japanese war. and IL II believed its
good Offices in this line are now being
extended. II his belief is well found
ed. = Adelbert Hay. United States
consul at Pretoria. has been the tnstru-
ment for transmitting TO the British
government. through the double Inter
vention OF the department OF state and
Ambassador Choate an application
from Presidents Kruger and Steyn to
be Informed as TO the terms upon which
the war can be ended. The fact I'm the
case will be fully developed in n day
or two.
Lord Pauncefote called at the state
department late in the afternoon and
spent half an hour with Secretary Hay.
If he was made acquainted with the
tenor OF any communications relative
to peace that may have come from
Pretoria yesterday. he gave no sign Of
the fact. The Officials Of the depart
ment also maintained n reserve res
pecting this subject that was impene-
trable. and all that could be obtained
from them was an injunction to await
the developments OF the next twenty
four hours. 1t is surTnised from this
that the department is restrained from
discussing the subject by a regard for
n diplomatic proprieties and especial
ly because OF the requirement that the
person to whom n note is addressed
hould be permitted TO receive IL before
its substance is made public. In such
case, ~presuming that Mr.. Choate re-
ceived a note only today. II is probable
that he would not be able 10 inform the
state department that he had delivered
it to Lord Salisbury before tomorrow.
THE QUESTION RAISED IN PAR
LAMENT.
London. March I'm the house OF
today, Mr.. Balfour. the first
lord OF the treasury and government
leader, replying to a question as To
whether. consistently with public in
te~rests. he could state the essential
conditions or which alone the govern
ment would entertain peace proposals
from the South African republics.
promised that papers in this connection
would shortly be presented to the
house.
When asked if there was any foun-
datiOn for the report that President
Kruger had addressed a communica-
ton to the government. Mr.. Baifour
reiterated his promise that papers
bearing on this subject would be pre-
sented TO the house within a short
time.
These papers will be presented tomor-
row and will confirm in every respect
the news cabled by the Associated
Press Friday last. that the peace ru-
morS were founded on the fact thai
President Kruger had appealed to Lord
Salisbury for a cessation of hostilities,
setting forth at length, by cable. the
terms which he was willing to accept,
and also that the cable dispatch to the
premier was signed by President Steyn
as well as by President Kruger.
Lord Salisbury's answer is exactly
as given by the Associated Press at
the same time, namely: That the adj
dLSS hdd met Will All tIlDHdllC re-
lection at the hands of Lord Salisbury,
who also said that no such attempt To
retain the independence of the Trans
vaal could be considered for a moment
by the British government.
Leonard B.. Courtney. member of par
lament, and others, in behalf of the
South African Cancellation committee,
Will memorialiZe Lord Salisbury to
make peace, now that the British arms
are triumphant. on the basis Of equal
rights to all whites and disarmament,
leaving the two republics national life
within their own borders
The Hague. March 12.-It is learned
from a reliable ource that President
kruger through the consul at Pre-
toria, has appealed for the Intervention
of the great powers in the Transvaal
war and has also appealed to the gov
ernments of Belgium, Holland and
Switzerland.
Durham. Monday, March 1.-THE
Transvaal having appealed to Germany
for mediation or Intervention In the
war with Great Britain, Germany has
replied that she declines to interfere,
as h is in TO way concerned in the