The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-18

eminent, generals, ana delegates, or
whatever they may be called, to Pretoria.
Thither they were invited after they had
frequently compared notes at Klerks-
dorp, and submitted various proposals
for ending the war. 1t was found that
communication by Geographic dispatches
Was unsatisfactory. The studied scour-
tesy Of the military authority, which pro-,
vided the Boer chiefs with special saloon
trains, and did justice to English hospi-.
tality in the matter of seeing to their
creature comforts, was conspicuous: and
surely most commendable. The Orange
River Colony officials and the Transvaal-
ers had been lodged in different houses
in Klerksdorp, and so they were con-
peyed to Pretoria in separate specials.
In the capital they were all accommo-
dated i'll the large, handsome garden
scniboWered villa next Lord Kitchener's
wooded town park. :,
official residence, and facing the WE'LL
| Means We're placed at their disposal
to obtain such articles of clothing, toilet,
and the like as they desired: and care;
was taken Stnat they should be- able to
select personally what they wanted: They
had drafted several documents, the terms
Of not a few of which were in decidedly
tumptious language. I -" 49,
Differences Among 4he Delegates.
Is AS a matter Of fact from first to last,
| while Schalkburger, the vice president,
| and the rest of the Transvaal govern
| ment, with the exception of Reitz,: were
| in favor of peace on any terms or no
terms, and Louis Botha shared their
views, Steyn, De Wet and Delaney were
| for demanding impossible conditions. OF
| that, however, anon. The first protocol
set: out: That whereas Great Britain
was responsible for the war, ETC., and by
| force of arms, ETC., they were willing to
| fN,, no TO, 1ino hat
their rights should be restored to them
| at the expiration of q fixed period, etc.
! All that was brushed aside and the dele
| gates after a while with some disputa-
| ton among themselves settled down to
draft les Objectionable terms. But Brer
Boer: is a quaint compound, suspicious,
and slow to move in any approved COM
mon sense direction. Like nearly all
primitive peoples he has no fear of. ask
ing too much, but a constant dread of
seeking too little. He goes on the prin
| ciple that arrangements and concessions
| are the outcome of entirely, low, selfish
motives on the part of the other side.
,. Delegates Didn't Enthuse.
The delegates evinced little surprise
| during their railway Journey at the evil
| dences of the resumption OF industrial
| pursuits in all directions, as If there was
neither war nor unrest in the country.
In conversation they betrayed no special
| interest upon any topic except in the mat
| ter of politics, home and foreign. They
Wer polite enough, but evidently silent
and distrustful as red Indian chiefs, of
| whom they put me more than once in
| mind. Officers and civilians who in kind
ness tried to engage, them in chat
found it dull work and gave up the at
tempt. They were taken to a stirring
polo match at Pretoria, but they paid
10 30 }ln md nj
swered now and then with ga! Ja!"
On the railway journeys they read little,
1 pm ssing the time for the most=part in
smoking, talking to each other, and drink
ing. 4 Poor Mr.. Steyn seemed more down
on his luck than any of the others on the
way to Pretoria. He was nervous and
out of sorts, and as he stepped out of the
train his, hat fell off more than once.
But his eyesight is very bad--worse than
| / thought it. There is something more
| seriously wrong than an ordinary cold
Land inf1amn alton. A local medical man
was, called in and is prescribing for him.
| Within J a, few minutes of their arrival
each party was conveyed to temporary
1 residence. ..7s..s.. a.zir-.N - g., =
| s.,'t. DeIarey Slow to succumb.
Sentries were placed at. the gateways Of
| their abode. The soldiers in question were
drawn from the escort or guard of honor.
1t was conceded that the Beers could see
,whomsoever they wished or go where
they willed, in company of an officer. The
only understanding was that the dele
gates, unless by express consent, should
not discuss politics or the war with their
Visitors Scores of female relatives and a
few Of the sterner sex could betseen walk
ing about daily in the garden or lounging
upon the verandas and balconies chatting
with the Boer leaders. Delarey had visits
Q,o~,> 1T Iry{fh hNv
| husband in Pretoria, as we'll as from old
| burgher friends. Doubt and suspicion
clouded the Boer generals mind, as they
did those of his colleagues, destroying
| frankness and easy intercourse.
And yet Delarey and the others were
anxious to know what the true situation
of affairs was, what, chance there was Of
assistance from abroad and how much
! the English would concede them. He said
they would insist that their flag, the
"Vierkleur," should be retained. He spoke
Of their recent successes, in particular his
own over Won Donop's convoy and the
capture Of Lord Methuen. II took on the
latter, occasion oyer 857 of Lord Methuen' S
|-column prisoners, including wounded" he
Eobserved.-S why, could hold out in the
western; Transvaal for two years mere, y
added the Boer general, who is, fear,
suffering from that sad complaint, "a
sWelled head But to a man who has
lived upon the veldt among a very homely
untraveled people, some boastfulness is,
under the circumstances, surely pardon
able. Delarey is man among and over
his Boer compatriots. He is honest and
downright in his dealings, and was so be-
fore the war-a Boer whose word was his
bond He further holly declared that If he
fought he would fight, as in the past, as
an honorable foe, and would do nothing tc
| forfeit the good name Of himself and his
: burghers.
l At Kitchener's Home.
/ Lord Kitchener, who surely is diplo-
matist as we'll as a soldier-and he has
had varied experience in both capacities
at least in Egypt-recefved the delegate:
at his residence. With studied care the
large drawing room for his work wa:
tidied up and many of the maps books
( pictures, and papers were removed. Blu
the large Dutch family Bible, the pride
and ornament of every Boer household
held it's old conspicuous place upon tn.
center of the great table. 1t was sigh
Z to see how the delegates came in ant
peered about, gazing fatty at everythin,
they saw, and wondering who was bidder
. behind the curtains: But they were sool
evidently all at their ease and talk pro
, ceeded. Louis Botha was an old acquain
lance, and neither Lukas Meyer no
halkburger evinced any reticence in dis
cussing the cause of their visit. In short
the Beers showed that they rather like
the opportunity of meeting and conversini
with Lord Kitchener, whereas it is al
open secret that they fear Lord Miner
The latter arrived at Pretoria on Sunda,