Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-24
SURE OF PEACE.
Formal Announcement Is All
There Is Lacking.
Both Beers and British Are Anxious
for End of the War.
A Few Irreconciia5les Alone Blocking
the Way.

peace in South Africa is prIc tic;iIly Sc
cured. How soon i'll will be announced
depends, apparently, more upon the
convenience Of the BCCr leaders than
upon the inclination of the British GOV
eminent. The private and official ad-
vices received tonight, in London from
South Africa all point to the same con-
Clusion. The delay is technical, and 10
end the long war seems TO be the dcslr
Of both British ana t3Our leaders. The
latter, however. are unable to convince
III their followers Of the wisdom OF
.cquicsing To the terms OF peace.
Informu tiol as to " nat transpircd at
,oday's meeting of the cabinet is close
guarded, but it is not likely that
he cabinet transactions We're Of vital
Importance. 1t is the widespread belief
best informed quarters that the END
# the war has come. In fact, those
,ersons who are best acquainted with
he actual details OF the present ncgo-
iations only qualify this optimistic eX-
preston of opinion by guarded rcserva-
.ions concerning the extent Of the per
5onM control Of the 3oer leaders over
their comrades. Were the Beers z
thoroughly disciplined force. depend
III blIbIi tIit ~ tlbll " NllNh4 soti4N - VI
1cvrs. peace would probably DO pro-
claimed, tonight: but both Dewct ana
Inc other generals seem themselves un-
lble positively to guarantee tn" dcgr""
o which their example Will be followed.
The delegates at Verceniging, accord
ing to information in possession of tn
war office. are fairly evenly diVidtd
consequently eXtrcm" precautions are
Xcrcised both in London ana Pretoria
o prevent any premature action or re-
iort which might adversely influence
he burghvrs.
The most pcssimistic forecast hcarI,
onight, only admits that a few issp-
.atcd bands Of irrecuncilablCs may DO
1T in the field.
4 member Of the House Of Commons,
tho is il close touch with the govern
ucnt, said to q representative Of TIN
\ss0ciatcd Press that he believed
vcrything was settled ana that The
british terms would be found uneXpect-
rdlv liberal.
The British public is still quite ignorant
of the course Of events in South Africa.
Tic Stock Exchange throughout the
day was Il SrvthinG mass Of brokers VINO
ca%rr ly bought South African shares
while long after thu closing of the EN-
change nearly 1W1 brokers did frantic
curb business on the strength Of the peace
outlook.
The appearance Of Mr. Brodrick tine
secretary of stat" Tor war. at the Vulun F.
tccr service dinner, tonight. WAS watch al
eagerly iii the hope of gaining an inklinE
Of the governments private frame Of
mind. But Mr. BrOdrick's listeners had TO
he Contcnt"d with one brief ana adruitE
turned reference to the present situation.
Responding to the toast tho imperial
forces" the war secretary said:
II would 80 beyond my duty should |
enter into d tails Of the communications
which are now passing and which pr"-
lIdc IS we all hope, the surrender Of the
Beers.
Mr.. Bridrick then proceeded to reiterate
the ofl-dcclared intention Of the govern
mcnt not to be drawn into any con-
promise which would jcopatdize futul-
peace in South Africa.
The second volume Of the London
Times History of the War appeared,
today, and-is attracting unusual attenL lion
on account of its scathinC denunciJtipi Of
British generals ana the war office. TIM
criticism is given additional weight by
the fact of its appearing under me aus
pieces Of The Thundercr. NO enemy 'l
Great Britain can lave more frankly de-
nounced British plumbers. Starting with
Gen. Whites last fight before he with
drew TO Ladysmith, the author says II
was in reality a serious defeat Of lnlah-
mand who proved quite unfit TO Srapi ie
with the difficult situation IN which
largely by the mistakes Of others. ne
was placed The cavalry was as bad ~
thu. infantry and the situation was only
saved by the hCrOiS.n of the artillery:
The surrender of troops at Nicholson :
Mex is described IS premature, though
no more humiliatins That many surreh~
dcrs which occurred after II.
Passing to Stormbcrs the writer de-
scribed the succession of the blundclS
which led to the reverse as sheer mi
management on the part Of Gen. Gatacie
or his staff
Touching the browning misfortune a.
Colcnso the author says:
"Just as in the hour Of battle Gen. BU!-
Ter had failed the men whom he led, -
now. in the hour of trial. he was 10 fail
his country, which rad entrusted the for
tune Of war to his hands He utterly lost
heart. Not only did he despair of doing
anything himself but he dcspaired foe
others"
London. May PA dispatch to the
Standard from Pretoria. dated Thursday,
May %, says that up to the previous SAT
urday the discussions among the mem
bers Of the conference at NcrceniSiES
were heated On Sunday, caimer cuun-
sells prevailed and certain points were
suggested by the Orange Free State rep
rescntatiVcS themselves IS offering
prospect Of agreement. The deputation
consequently proceeded to Pretoria and
as a result II IS DeiieNtt tntI a htNllll'
agreement has been drafted that the
agreement will be signed
Much has been due, says the dispatch,
to the patience and the act Of Lord Kitch-
cner and to the fun facilities given the
delegates for discussion
After the cabinet council ended, yester
day, meeting of the inner committee OF
the cabinet was held. After this meeting
Mr. Chamberlain. the colonial secre tary,
proceeded to Buckingham palace, whore
he had an audience Of King Edward. Mr..
Chamberlain returned to Buckingha IN
palace second time i'll the evening. LORD
Salisbury had gone to Hatfield House ana
the other ministers have dispersed.
1t is understood that the Boer demand
for Independence has now been completely
abandoned, but that certain points COLI
corning amnesty, compensation and rep-
resentatiVe government were subIsitted to
the cabinet together with minor matters
and that at the meeting Of the cabinet
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. nv,csss4snsyvExszxxY