Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-13
England's Reply to the Offer Of Our
Services.
TERMS OF BOERSHAVE been REJECTED
Lord SaIisbury's Response Given to
Mr.. White.
VAIN EFFORTS FOR PEACE

DIT lHe request Ol IEeS1uSIil
Kruger and President Steyn. has offered to
the British COVER nment its services me-
diator. with the view Of bringing about
peace in South Africa.
Lord Salisbury has not yet replied, but
representative OF the Associated Fress
learns that there IS little doubt he will de-
cline the United States good offices. He
will do so, however, in terms as cordial and
polite as those in which the offer was
couched.
The representations made to Great Brit
ain We're put that they assumed nothing
of a desire to intervene, but simply trans
mitted the communications made to United
States Consul Adelbert S. Hay, at Pre-
toria, with the accompanying assurances
that Anything the State Department could
do in the interests of peace would be gladly
undertaken The well-known aversion of
the British government to any foreign in
tervention does not appear to have been
aroused, and while Lord Salisbury will
doubtless say he is unable to comply with
the offer. he will also probably express his
appreciation of the United States efforts in
behalf of humanity.
Vain Efforts for Peace.
The offer of mediation springs from Pre-
toria, where Mr.. Hay, with the other con-
suls. subsequent to Presidents Kruger and
Steyn sending their peace cablegram to
Lord Salisbury, were asked to endeavor to
secure the good offices of their respective
governments, apparently with the view of
bringing outside influence to bear upon Lord
Salisbury's reply to the Boer overtures.
Thest seem to have been fruitless, except
in the instance of the United States con-
sui, whose representations to Secretary Hay
We're forwarded yesterday to the United
States embassy in London, with the in
structions outlined above. These Mr.. White,
the charge d'affaires, personally presented
to Lord Salisbury. who received them cor
daily but without committing himself to
any definite expression Of opinion.
As the Boer OvertureS had already been
answered to the effect that propositions
including the retention of the republics
independence could be considered, the pre-
sentation of the American offer was al
ready too late. but the premier. apparently
deemed it matter of sufficient Importance
to put himself on record with a formal re-
Ply, which is now awaited.
England Declines.
G:f5 pm.-The United States charge daft
faires, Henry White, saw Lord Salisbury
at the foreign office this evening and re-
ceived d formal reply from the British gov
ernment. declining the good offices of he
United States in regard to peace. 1t is un-
derstood that the reasons of the premier
identical with those already cabed to
the Associated Press.
The interview was very brief. the premier
cUntining himself to a courteous verbal dec
lination, without entering into details.
Discussed at Cabinet Meeting.
Nearly all of the two hours the cabinet
was in session today was given to discus
sion Of the terms of peace offered to Eng
land by Presidents Kruger and Steyn of
South Africa. Secretary Hay briefly re-
viewed he These n
be ascertained today, are that the United
States has transmitted to England dis
patch from the South African republics
making certain propositions. In doing this
the United States shows to England and
the rest Of the world that if she could do
so she would be glad to peace establish
ed in the country now at warfare.
The cabinet discussed the resolution in
troduced in the Senate by Mr. Allen yes
terday calling for information as to what
steps had been taken to bring about peace
In South Africa. 1t was decided that no
facts on this subject be made
public inasmuch they do not properly
belong to the United States. but to the two
governments engaged in the correspond
ence.
No Statement Made.
Up to the time the cabinet meeting ad-
journed no answer had been received from
the British government to the representa-
tions made through Mr.. Choate touching
tNe restoration Oh peace IN SOuIn
In view of this fact it was decided by the
cabinet, upon an explanation of the case by
Secretary Hay, that it would not be proper
at present to make any statement relative
to the part which the United States govern
ment is taking in the effort to terminate the
war. This course of official reticence is
said to be dictated by official propriety. 1t
is held that whatever matter is to be made
public touching the peace negotiations must
enanate from one of the prncipals--Great
Britain one of the South African repub-
lics-and the United States being nothing
more than an intermediary is not justified
in disclosing the secrets of the principals.
Not Mediator.
1t is stated again. on the highest author
ity, that in its present capacity the United
States government is not mediator -
but is simply .'go-between'-a convenient
channel of communication between two hos
tiles, VINO, having broken off all treaty re-
lations, are consequently estopped from di-
rect approach, and are obliged to have
recourse to third party. This is true, of
course. only as to purely diplomatic ex-
change: there is another way, but only
through military channels. whereby the bel
ligerents may come in direct communica-
ton.
Not a single proposition to serve as a
basis of a peace agreement between Great
Britain and the Boer republics was set out
in the communication to Lord Salisbury
| All that was ventured in this first overture
was an inquiry to what Great Britain
was likely to demand as the price of stop
| ping the war. To have gone further and
| have proposed terms our own account
| might have placed the United States in the
| position of an unlimited mediator.
| Secretary Hay Suffering With Cold.
| Secretary Hay was almost speechIess
| from a severe cold today, and when the
| cabinet meeting adjourned he was Obliged
| to go home and go to bed. II any answer
! should be received during the next few
| hours it will therefore probably be dealt
| with directly by the President.
What II Looked For
| There is a belief in some quarters here
l founded on our own history that the
| British reply to this overture will be a
| polite reference of Presidents Kruger and
Steyn to Lord Roberts as a person fully au-
| thorized to make known to them the terms
| upon which the British government is win.
| ing to cease hostflities. In such case the
| first answer of Lord Roberts is expected
| to be unconditional surrender" That
! however, does not signify in the opinior
| of the officials here that other terms can.
not be made. Although it is doubtful tina,
] peace will immediately follow the move.