The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-11
INTERVIEW WITH KITCHENER
RRITLsH GOVERNMENT NOT AT ALE
DISPLEASED AT THE IN
TELLIGENCE
DON'T RECKON ON DEwE1
That Elusive officer LIS Claimed ID
Be Losing Alike His Intellect J
and His Hold on His
Forces.

CAPE TOWN, April 10-Gen. Botha
mas reopened negotiations with the Brit
iSh for peace.
1t Is understood here that, although
cen. Dewet i'll his recent interview with
Gen. Botha refused to surrender. Gen
Botha, regarding him as irresponsible
undertakes to negotiate in behalf of the
entire Boer forces. The British author
tiles here consider that if Gen. Botha
surrenders Dewet's following can be cas-
lily taken AS explained here, this action
was determined upon in part by Gen.
Botha's discovery at a recent meetin6
that Gen. Dewet's intellect had weak
ened and that his influence with the fol-
lowers was diminishing and that a con-
tlnuance of the campaign, In view Of
Cen Dewets irrcsponsibility, rested with
Gen. Botha alone.
JOY IN LONDON.
LONDON, April u.-"It is semi-ott1-
cially asserted here" says the CapA
ToWn correspondent of the Daily TeIe-
graph, that Gen. Botha has had another
interview with Lord Kitchener in which
he Informed him that he had seen Dewet.
who still refuses to entertain the idea Of
surrender on any terms. Gen. Botha,
however, regards DeWet as no longer re-
sponsible for his actions, and seeks a mo
dus vivendi on behalf of all the burgher
forces.
The report that Gen Botha has renew
ed the negotiations with Lord Kitchener
is not yet officially confirmed but it is
generally credited and received with sat-
fsfact1on, except by the ultra jingoes.
WE6 fear that the government Will re-
new the terms recently rejected. Re-
earding 4en. Dewelt's mental condition
reports have been very conflicting for
some time. His recent inactivity points
to their being some truth in the rumors
which allegc that the hardships endured
under the hard British pursuit have an
hinged his mind.
On the other hand correspondent Of
the Times quite recently admired the ad<
mfrable foresight and sagacity with
which he escaped from Cape Colony"
After the-recent abortive negotiatfonS
| the British press again insists on "uncon<
ditional surrender" but with the budget
tax ON necessaries staring the country in
the face, if negotiations are reopened. tha
Beers, as the Daily Chronicle remarks,
may reckon on fair treatment at the
hands of the British"
BOERS STILL IN THE FIELD. >
The Boer resources of craft have not
yet been exhausted, for there is an ottl-
cial confirmation of the report that seven
ty-1ve British troopers were surrounded
and captured near Aberdeen, Cape Coli
ony. This is the first Boer success rec
orded for several months and is proof
that the guerillas can do something
more than to retreat more rapidly than
they can be pursued.
Sir Alfred Miner has decided that the
time has gone by for treating the cape
Colony rebels with leniency They will
no longer be tried under the special act,
but will be indicted under common law
and will be subject, therefore. to all the
penalties prescribed for the crime of trea-
son, including capital punishment This
official announcement Is an Indication
that the situation in Cape Colony Is
not so satisfactory as the British mile
tary authorities would like it to be.