The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-02-08
WOULD TREAT WITH BOERS
IS THE REPLY OF LANsDowNE.
England Ready to Negotiate with
the Roers Who Are Now i'm the
Field-Outside Powers Are Given
Notice Not to Interfere, AZ 1t Does
Not Concern Them.

London, Feb. 6.-The text Of the reply
OF Lord Lansdowne the British foreign
secretary, to the communication of DIR.
kuyper, the premier of the Netherlands,
is rs follows:
The Foreign Office, Jan. 20, 1902. Sir:
You were good enough 10 lay before me
January 25 communication from the
Netherlands government, in which it was
proposed, with view to bringing the war
to an end, his majesty's government might
grant safe conduct to the Boer dele
gates now in Holland for the purpose of
enabling them to confer with the Boer
leaders in South Africa. 1t is suggested
that after conference the delegates might
return to Europe with power to conclude
a treaty of peace with this country, and
the Netherlands government intimales that
in this event they might at a later stage
be instrumental in placing the Boer pleni-
potentiaries in relation with plenipotentilr-
les who might be appointed by his ma
jestys government. The Netherlands gov
ernment intimates that if this project CON-
mends itself to his majesty's government
they will inquire Of the delegates whether
they are prepared to make the suggested
visit to South Africa.
1T may, therefore, be inferred that the
! communication received was made on the
responsibility Of the Netherlands govern
ment alone and without authority Of the
Boer delegates or leaders. His majesty's
government has given it their best consid-
Grafton, and while entirely appreciative OF
the motives of humanity which led the
Netherlands government to make this pro-
posal, they feel that they must adhere to
the position adopted and publicly an
nounced by them some months after the
commencement Of hostiities by the Beers,
that it was not their intention to accept
the intervention Of any foreign power in
the South African war.
"Should the Boer delegates themselves
desire to lay request for safe conduct
before his majestys government there is
no reason why they should not do so.
But his majesty's government obviously is
not in a position to express an opinion on
such an application until they have re-
ceived it and are aware of the precise ma.
ture and grounds whereon the request is
made.
Il may, therefore, point out that it is
not at present clear to his majesty's gov
ernment that the delegates retain any in
fiuence over the representatives Of the
Beers in South Africa or have any voice
in their councils. They are stated by the
Netherlands government to have no such
letters OF credence or instruction of later
date than March, 1900. His majesty's gov
ernment, on the other hand, understood
that all the powers Of government, includ-
ing those OF negotiations, were now COM
pletely vested in Mr.. Steyn for the Beers
of the Orange River Colony and Mr..
Schalkberger for those of the Transvaal.
"lf this is SO, it is evident that the
quickest and most satisfactory means Of
arranging a settlement would be by direct
communication between the leaders of the
Beers in South Africa and the commander
in chief of his majesty's forces, who has
already been instructed to forward i'm
, mediately any offers he may receive for
the consideration of his majesty's govern
ment
SIN this connection his majesty's gov
!. ernment has decided that if the Boer lead
ers should desire to enter negotiations for
the purpose of bringing the, war to an end,
l those negotiations must take place, not in
!, Europe, but in South Africa.
! 'It should, moreover, be borne in mind
: that if the Boer leaders are to occupy
time in visiting South Africa in consulting
!. with Boer leaders in the field and in re-
turning to Europe for the purpose Of max
3 ing known the results Of their errand a
period of at least three months would
e elapse, during which hostilities would be
: prolonged and much human suffering, per-
t haps needlessly, occasioned. have, etc.
''LANSDOWNE."
I Fire mt Dyvfrht.