The Globe-republican., 1902-06-19

foreigners, who were mostly Holland
ers- Brer Boer, left to himself, read
lily strikes up fast and lifelong friend
ships with a European
To give succinct account of the
conduct of the negotiations is difficult
but not impossible The customary
embargo was laid upon our cabling
news. Even letters, mark you, are
not yet out of the censor's list, and as
for the claim of the press to be in
formed of all matters of public i'm
pOrtance that is an extravagant dream.
The statement of the BOer case and
claims was reduced to writing more
than once Constant commune
was maintained as to the course of
proceedings between Pretoria and Lon
don Finally, when the proposals
were drafted into something like con-
ditiOns that could really be enter
tanned, the text was wired to the Co
1onial Secretary. Thereafter came
back in answer on Thursday, I think.
the British Governments irreducible
minimum. Lord Miner had several
days previously received a very long
message in cipher, setting out the
home authorities view and instruc-
lions. The negotiations were nearly
departing Beers delayed departing,
and started to talk matters over afresh
with each other.
There was a second meeting on
Thursday and one more on Friday
yesterday, the date of their actual re
turn to the commanders Nothing is
ever lost to a Boer for want of ask
ing. In the beginning of the palaver
the delegates Opened their mouths
mOnstrous wide There was a declara-
ton that England had unjustly pro-
voked and made war upon the repub-
lies; that the struggle was an unequal
one, and they wished for peace They
able t0 continue the for
some time, but to stop further enusion
of blood they would cease hostilities
provided that within year civil gov
eminent was restored to the two
states. They stipulated that, pending
that and the withdrawal OF the troops,
they should be represented by &C
tua1 majority of at least four out of
seven upon any administrative council
formed to conduct the governm ent of
the country that their flags should be
retained, and at the end of five years
the British forces should be entirely
withdrawn from the TranSvaa1 and
Orange Free States, and these two
countries should be recognized as in
dependent republics
In that ttpurgatory.' period there
should be no Acknowledgement of
burghers, and the Boer officials should
have control of the reins of govern
ment; and, further, they would agree
| to amend the franchise law, as for
! merly asked for by England, and
| would allow British subjects to vote,
| and also permit the use of the two
! languages. There was to be general
| amnesty for all who had borne arms.
| including Cape rebels 1t was toler-
antly pointed out by Lord Kitchener
| that such demands were unreasonable
| intoIerabIe, impossible. The process
| of cutting down seemed YEARLY slow.
| but bit by bit they numbered from
| stage to stage, it seen that
| otherwise they would have to go back
| to their commanders without any
| message. Ultimately the matter was
| put in a manner from which there was
! no trimming possible by the British
| Government setting forth the terms
| they would concede and not go beyond
| These were substantially the same
! conditions as were offered over one
year ago to Louis BOtha and the com
rnandoes at Middleburg-