The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-04-18
BELIEVE THE END Is NEAR.
A Cabinet Meeting of the Ministers
IIeId-It VIII Take Time to Fix
Final Terms-Taxes VIII BE
Rnised-Ministry Waits for Word
From Kitchener.

peaceY' meets the eye in glazing pos
ters of newspapers and the question
is re-echoed throughout the United
Kingdom. AS pointed out and con-
firmed by Mr. BafOur, the government
leader in the house of commons. the
reports of the definite end of a con
fiict of such length, involving so many
lasting and intricate issues, being
reached probably without any time be-
ing devoted to negotiations, are palpa-
bly, premature. 1t is announced that
the ministers at the meeting, which
lasted an hour, discussed a communi-
cation from Lord Kitchener. This is
quite within reason and government
circles expect several similar mes
sages from Lord Kitchener before anv-
thing definite can be announced. While
Lord kitchener's message may have
been or vital Importance. the Associ-
ated Press has good reasons to believe
that the sudden summons OF the cabi-
net ministers was due to a desire to
decide whether or not the presentation
of the budget could be postponed un-
settled one way or the other.
Whatever the proposals of the chan
cellor of the excheQuer. Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach, may be, they are bound
to be greeted by storms of criticism
from various quarters. Peace will not
modify the crying need Of additional
revenue, but it would take off the
sting from the additional taxation.
which is bound to raise a protest of
protestation from every class of in
dnstry affected. In the national iubi-
latlon over the end of the war these
industrial protests will be lost to
sight. 1t would be no surprise if it
is announced on Monday that the
budget presentation once more has
been postponed. and if this does not
take place parliamentary circles will
regard it as one OF the best omens that
the government practically is assured
OF a successful termination of the
Klerksdorph conference.
The cabinet council today. while it
probably did not fulfill the sensation
ally attributed function Of deciding be.
tween peace or war. undoubtedly re-
viewed the entire situation, both as
regards finance and the situation in
South Africa. How complicated and
impossible Of off-hand solution is the
latter question can be judged by ~
apparently authentic statement pub
lished in the Edinburgh News this
afternoon.
While there is no reason to believe
that this is not a semioficial summary
OF the Beers demand, there is also
reason to think that they may be
modified How strongly the govern
ment shares that hope may be judged
from the fact that the London police
officials today were ordered to keep
large forces in order to avoid any
repetition of "Mafeking night" which.
it is feared might ensue should the
conclusion Of peace be announced
It was ascertained late tonight that
another cabinet meeting had been ar
ranged for tomorrow afternoon.
dent Schalkburger, Generals Louis
Botha, Lucas Meyer Delarey and
Dewet and Mr.. Steyn have arrived
here from Klerksdorph.
The Transvaal and Orange Free
State delegates journeyed on separate
trains, both OF which were rushed
through the delegates travelling all
night. The trains arrived close to-
gether. The two parties are not
lodged together here, but are quar-
tered in separate houses.
Later.
The Hague. April 15.-From those
close in touch with the BOer leaders
here it appears that the latest secret
dispatch from South Africa outlines
the peace proposals now under discus
sion at Pretoria. They closely follow
the summary given on Saturday last
by the Evening News of Edinburgh,
with the following additional details:
The Beers to accept a British lord
commissioner, with a Boer executive,
both to be resident at Pretoria.
The country to be divided into dis
tricts, with British district officers and
a BOer committee chosen by polling
by the burghers. The veto to be re-
served to the British government. The
majority of the British officers must
be conversant with the two languages.
johannesburg to be coded to the
British. with complete British civil
government
A war indemnity of e10,000,000, to
be distributed by mixed committees.
Disarmament to occur when the first
batch of Boer prisoners is sent back
to South Africa.