The Washington times., 1901-12-01
JOHN BULL
WANTS PEACE.
Willing to Give Beers EaS-
ier Terms.
SIGNIFICANT SPEECHES PLANNED.
lamberlain Expected to Mai @
Public Announcement of the NJ W
Purposes -T The King Anxious
for the Strife to End.

LONDON. Nov. 30.-It is becoming clear
er daily that she pendulum which seems
10 control the vacillating policy Of the
British Government has again taken a
wide swing. and every effort is now
being made to induce the Beers to ac-
cept easy terms OF peace
The official declaration Of only few
weeks ago that unconditional surrender
would alone be accepted and that no
shred Of independence would be permitted
10 the Transvaal is now explained to
mean something very different from the
obvious significance of these simple
cords.
The Government has. in fact, let it be
come known that it is quite ready to en-
ter into negotiations with any response
BILE Boer commander on the basis of the
concession Of ultimate local representa-
tive self government.
Not n Jingo Protest.
The greatest significance of this an
nouncement lies in its reception by the
British public. There has not been a sin
gle jingo protest The extraordinary
volte face of the Ministry has been allowed
TO pass almost without comment The
silence is so general that one is almost
compelled to believe it due to one of
those quiet official intimations sometimes
given to the Unionist press in moments
OF national emergency.
There is no sign whatever of the spon
taueous popular protest which such
suggestion would have aroused only
year or so ago. The Government, if it
wished TO convince public opinion in favoc
ef bringing the war to a close on any
terms short OF conceding independence
90 the Transvaal. has reason to be salts
fed with the effect or non-effeet Of its
really momentous announcement Next
probably will come definite declaration
in the same direction.
Two Significant Speeches Expected.
The impression prevails in authorits-
tive quarters that at the Guild Hall next
week, when the City Council entertains
the Prince of Wales at luncheon, Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain viii make a speech Of
the first Importance. stating in clear
language the terms which the Government
is prepared to give to the Beers.
The Earl of Rosebery viii propose the
teast CT Prosperity TO the Colonies,
at the direct request Of the King and
that fact Itself is CT considerable sig
nifcance. His Majesty. il is we'll known,
is extremely desirous that his corona
lion year sho';ld be ushered in by the es-
iablishment of peace throughout the En-
pire and IL Mr.. Chamberlain should an
nounce notifications in the terms design
Cd tc placate the Beers. the credit for the
same should be given TO his royal master.
Some ultra -sanguine prophets declare
that Mr. Chamberlain Will make public
he satisfactory conclusion OF peace ne
sotiaticns now actually in progress. but
no ground can be discovered here for that
extreme optimism. There is reason to he
IeYe. however, tnat the Government for
4 month past has been taking measures to
bring it unoiiicially to the knowledge Of
the Boer leaders that peace is available
on far easier terms than previous utter
aBces Of British officials have indicated.
Information both from Holland and South
Africa points in this direction.
Has Change Come Too Late.
One is almost forced to believe that the
ooneiliatory attitude of Great Britain
has been adopted just seventeen months
tco late. Such terms might have been
arranged after the fall of Pretoria. but the
Beers remaining in the field now have
nothing further to lose, and they are alb
solute irreconcilables. On the other hand
the British Government eannot be criti-
cised for its delay, because public opE-
ion in June 1900, would have refused 70
approve the terms to which it now gives
d grudging consent.
And so it has been since the commence
nf nd
war. Compromise has been impossible
Tor one side or the other at every
stage. There are those sanguine enough
TO believe that terms sufficiently Iiberal
might now be offered 10 induce the bulk
OF the Boer cOIlbatants TO abandon the
struggle. Next month. possibly the next
few days, may settle this point At all
events, If Great Britain is able to show
that a really generous offer has been
refused, it viii go Ear TO modify pub
lie opinion abroad toward this country.
and might Justify more stringent meas
ures for bringing the war to q conclusion,
which would be the only alternative
course open TO the British.
Quick Movements of the Beers.
The correspondent Of the Sun" at
Pretoria writes that the Beers powers Of
rapid movement and concentration slill
foil the efforts OF the British military in
telligence Offices attached to the various
columns.
The Beers come in as fast as the fastest
scouts who are looking out for them,
and their attack is delivered before warn
ing can be given, even in cases where the
intentions OF the Beers are partly known
before hand
As an example OF quick moving he says
that Louis Botha, with 500 men, covered
sixty miles in twelve hours in order to
arrive at Brakenlaagte 10 help Grobeler
against Colonel Benson.
a Queen, hat Jnhnppy.
Information from The Hague describes
the semi-ofIiciaI denials of trouble be
tween Queen Wilhelmina and her Prince
Consort as entirely mendselous. As was
stated a month ago, the young couple did
have serious differences. and are now
gravely estranged. The Dutch people. as
might be supposed, have arranged them
selves fisrcely by their young Queens
side. and the young Prince dare not show
himself in public, so widespread and pas
sionste is the feeling of resentment. Mere
over, be has taken no pains to conceal
his contempt for Dutchmen, and would
doubtless cheerfully accept a lump sum
down and yearly allowance by way OF
solatum for retirement into private life
III Germany. He is known TO have seat
complete statement OF his case TO the
German Emperor. but if Kaiser Wilhelm
should venture TO interfere actively. he
would raise such a storm in Holland as
would not he easily allayed
Prince Henry's Grievances.
Prince Henry's main grievances are
said to be in order of Importance: Queen
MIIhelmina'a nippa rdl liness in the rrlatfer