The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1902-04-18
FOR PEACE
ACTIVITY OVER THE PROPOSE
TIoN is APPARENT.
CHAMBERLAIN AND KING TALK
He Devotes Two Hours to Confer
ence, but Withholds Any State
ment - Officials Carefully Guard
Against Disclosing Results.

LONDON, April 1.-THE announce
ment of the presence at Pretoria of the
Orange Free States and Transvaal
leaders who have been at Klerksdorp
considering terms of peace has caused
a decided increase in the hopefulness
of the public concerning the possibil-
tiles Of peace. The expectations
aroused by the conference at Pretoria
have been further heightened by the
movements of MI. Chamberlain, the
colonial secretary, and other members
of the cabinet in London and evidences
that important dispatches are passing
between Lord Kitchener and the gov
ernment
A conference Of members Of the
cabinet was held last night at mid
night in Mr. Chamberlains house.
Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr.. BrOdrick, the
war secretary; Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, the chancellor of the exchequer,
and the duke of Devonshirt, president
Of the council. were present. The con
ference terminated at l o'clock this
morning, and today Mr.. Chamberlain
and several of the colonial officials
were in their offices. Messengers
passed between them and Sir Michael
HicksBeach at his residence.
At 1870 this afternoon MIR. Cham
beriain drove to Buckingham palace
and remained with King Edward for
two hours. During the afternoon
messengers carried dispatches from the
| Foreign office to Lord Salisbury, who.
with Mr.. Balfour, the government
leader in the House Of Commons, was
at Hatfield house.
These outward signs of Sunday ac-
tivity have not been supplemented by
any authoritative or official statement.
The question most discussed thus far
has been whether the peace negotia-
tions would affect the governments
financial proposals, which promise to
be submitted to Parliament tomorrow.
The fact that Sir Michael Hicks
Beach was engaged il his office nearly
all of today is taken in some quarters
to indicate a modification of the bud
get statement.
There appears to be no doubt that
the Boer leaders have communicated
the results Of the deliberations to
Lord Kitchener. Attempts will be
made in Parliament tomorrow to as
certain what information the govern
ment has on the South African situa-
ton and to learn its intentions, but
it Is not expected that the government
can forecast the probable outcome Of
tions have been sent to Lord Kitch-
ener are believed to be only provi-
sional in character.
The comparatively brief duration of
the conferences at Klerksdorp is re-
garded as an indication that the Boer
leaders found little difficulty in agree
ing upon some basis of negotiation.
The transfer of the negotiations to
Pretoria, where both Lord Kitchener
and Lord Miner, the British high
commissioner in South Africa. are at
present, is interpreted by the morning
papers as meaning that the Beers are
prepared to make formal peace nego-
tiations. The latest reports from Boer
headquarters at Brussels and The
Hague declare that the delegates will
raise no opposition if honorable terms
are granted and the Beer leaders in
South Africa have agreed to accept
the maximum obtainable.