The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-04
KITCHENER'S TERMS OF PEACE
DE WET AND HIS FIGHTERS EVIL
IDENTIFY NOT CONSULTED.

Details of Gen. Kitchener's Confer
ence with Peace Committee of
BurEhers on Dec. Fl Given Out by
War Omce-Kitchener Pointed Out
Folly of Guerrilla Warfare and
Told Them What Conditions They
Could Expect.
London, Jan. 4.-The censorship has
just permitteu news of the following
peace tentatives to emanate from Pre-
toria:
About the middle of December num-
Der of prominent burghers. who had sub
district, formed a peace committee. Mr..
Van Rensburg, former member of the
first Volksraad of the Transvaal, was
elected was elected president of the com
mittee which included other promi-
nent former members of the Volks-
raad. Lord Kitchener addressed a meet
ing of the committee on Dec. 81. He as
sured them that they could rely upon his
assistance in every way calculated to
bring the war to speedy conclusion. He
proceeded TO point out the folly of a
continuance of guerrilla warfare, since the
British government would never permit
the re-establshment of the Boer govern
ment.
Mr.. Chamberlain's statements in Parlia-
ment, Lord Kitchener contended, clearly
showed that there was no wish to Cypress
the burghers On the contrary, the Brit
ieh Ic oh ri
government, in which the burghers would
have a prominent share, insuring the
rights of property and the ancient laws
and customs of the burghers.
Lord Kitchener pointed out that the
Powers had refused Mr.. Kruger's requests
had fought good fight, but they had been
overpowered and there was no dishonor
in the leaders recognizing that fact.
He reminded them that there were hosts
of Boer prisoners waiting to be restored
to their families.
Referring to his proclamations to the
country, Lord Kitchener said that unfor-
tunately these had not been allowed to
reach the burghers, which he trusted the
committee would attend to. He promised
to give to the committee notice If COM
measures. AS TO those who had broken
oath Of neutrality, he told the committee
that all would be accommodated, with
their families, in protected iaagers along
the line of railway. He asserted that it
was imperative to clear the country of
Inhabitants and of food, because, so long
as food remained the commands would be
able to continue in the field He could
not be responsible for stock unless 1t was
brought in, declaring that he hoped at the
end of the war to be able to divide the
remaining stock among the various suf-
ferers.
No one, he promised, would be sent out
of the country, but all who had fought
fairly, including the leaders, would re-
ceive the consideration due their rank.
He advised the formation of local SUBJ
committees to send out agents to the
Boer commandos, explaining that they
could communicate through the central
committee and the military governor and
could also come to see him personally, il
necessary.
Lord Kitchener assured them that they
could place the most absolute reliance on
his giving effect to what he said.
The committee, which included Gen.
Crouje's brother, promised to circulate
the speech everywhere.
Since the meeting orders have been Is
sued against burning farmhouses unless
Il should be proved that the actual in
habitants had committed misdeeds.
The first districts cleared under LORD
Kitchener's plan were Jagersfontein and
Fauresmith whose inhabitants were laag-
cred at Fauresmith.