New-York tribune., 1902-02-05

The text OF the communication OF the Dutch
Minister in London 70 Lord Lansdowue is as fol
lows:
IN In the opinion Of the government of her majesty
the queen, the exceptional circunstanc in which
one OF the belIgerent parties in South Africa is
rectly with the other beiIigereni consfte one i
reason reaSs for the proongation Of the war which IS
s.- raging without pause or end, and which causes
cJr1sTsos t5s 1 II IL IN Iaci an excepuonal eir
completely shut fl and separated from the rest OF
Ine world, and that the Boer representatives IN
Ing with The general commanding their forces The
oug6t - ags aTlses that me authorities who
~ liOG tWo secuons which are deprived OF all means
Boer delegates in Europe can DO nothing because
y spy 90 no, know the state q affairs in Africa,
STAN STAN from taking any steps because they
~ g gSOEeI ne delegates IN Europe are bound BY
their letters Of crederce, which were drawn up in
dependence Of the republics that they could not
s even De permitted to accept the establishment
disputes which might arise were not laid down at
question whether the offer Of good oflces could
not De usefully made by a neutral power. in order
otherwise could not be opened For this reason
wOltd De agreeable 10 the Britannia government
20 make use OF the good offices OF neutral power
placing in communication negouators 10 be ap-
pointed sIt 6y the Two parties the Holland govern.
Boer delegates are in NetherIend terrftoTy and ac
credited 10 that government alone. If his Britain
nc naJesty's government should agree to this view
the gov eminent OF her majesty the Queen would
have 70 inquire OF the BOer delegates whether
they are willing TO proceed 10 Africa and delib-
crate with the Boer leaders the spot, returning
70 Europe after stay OF fixed length, say q
night armed with adequate. fun powers providing
1or all eventUehtes. and authorizing them 70 con
clude treaty OF peace which should bind abso-
lutely both the Beers IN Europe and the Beers II
Africa
IN the event OF affirmative reply II would be
necessary for his Britannia majestys government
TO hand the Netherlands government three safe
conducts permitting the Boer delegates TO pro-
ceed freely TO Africa remain there freely for the
time agreed upon, and return freely TO Europe.
Il would further be necessary for the British
government TO allow the OF a telegraph code.
with the view Of appointing place where the
delegates could meet the Boer leaders.
On their return, the Netherlands government
could place them IN communication with the peni-
potentiartes appointed for that purpose by his
Britannia matesty's government, and would viii
Hngly undertake TO place the disposal OF these
the accommodation necessary for their
meetings. The Netherlands government would
then consider their task
II Is quite evident that negOtis tons thus begun
might lead TO result but the possibility OF the
contrary is also not excluded and in this condi-
ton OF affairs II appears desirable to endeavor to
open negotiations in the hope that they may be
successful, and face q difficulty. which exsts f0r
all belligeTent parties. OF taking drst step IN
this direction. and Il might be useful that third
party should undertake the matter and serve as
Intermediary. GERICKE
London. Jan d