The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-05-01
NILuER IS DISCOURAGED
Saws South African Conditions Are
Worse Than Last Summer.
GRANTED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The Beers May Renew Peace Negotia-
tIons-They Objected to His Participa-
tion in the Last Conference.-The Last
Review of the Situation Not opti-
mistic-The Damage to the Mines.
London.-A blue book has been Is
sued giving Sir Alfred Miners re-
quest, made on April 8. for leave or
absence from South Africa. on the
ground that he had worked continu-
ously for two years and unless he OBJ
tanned rest he would be unable to
superintend the work Of RECONSTRUCT
ton.
Colonial Secretary Chamberlain. in
reply. said he regretted the necessity
for Sir Alfred leaving South Africa
but he recognized that leave Of ao-
sence was unavoidable, and he grant
ed three months.
The blue book contains long re-
view of the situation written by Sir
Alfred Milner at Cape Town, on Feb
ruary 6, which, while not despond-
ent, is in nowise optimistic. 1t Is no
use denying, he says. that the last
half year has been one of retrogres-
sion. Seven months ago the colony
was perfectly quiet as far as the
Orange River. The southern half Of
the Orange Free State was rapidly
settling down. Il considerable portion
of the Transyaal distinctly seemed to
have accepted British authority and
to have rejoiced at the opportunity to
return to orderly government and
peace.
Now the scene is completely altered.
It would be superfiuous to dwell on
the increased losses to the country
caused by the prolongation of the
struggle. The events Of the last six
months will involve greater amount
of repair and a longer period of re-
cupsration, especially for agriculture.
than anybody could have anticipated
when the war began.
Sir Alfred holds, however, that the
economic consequences, though grave,
are in no wise appalling. He dwells
upon the country's recuperative pow
ers, and especially upon the fact that
the Rand and Kimberley have not
been damaged. He says he is convinced
that it will not be many years before
the economic ravages Of the war are
effoced, and believes that the material
destruction is less serious than the
moral effect of the recrudescence of
the war.
He concludes by summing up what
he believes to be the last unanimous
feeling of South Africans who SYM
pathize with the British Government.
He says they are sick to death Of the
war, which has ruined so many OF
them, but would rather it should con-
tinue indefinitely than risk any COM
promise leaving the remotest chance
of it's recurrence in the future. They
are prepared to fight and suffer in
order to make South Africa indis-
putably forever one country under the
British system Of government. but,
that accomplished, they are willing to
bury racial animosities. The atti-
tude of almost all the leading repre-
sentative men and the general trend
of public feeling Is against anything
like racial exclusiveness or domina-
ton.
One of the obstacles in the recent
peace negotiations between General
Botha and the British was the Boer
hostility to dealing with Sir Alfred
D1ilner, who as British High Commis-
sioner in South Africa. had become
very unpopular. It was stated that
request had been made by the Beers
for his withdrawal from the negotia-
tions, but that Colonial Secretary
Chamberlain had refused to permit it.
There have been recent rumors of a
renewal of the negotiations between
General Kitchener and General Botha