The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-18
THE BOER DELEGATES
WAS DISPOSED TERMS, BUT
DEFIANT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PRESSED
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.



are to have the dubious honor of being the
last to come in and give up the further,
useless, wanton spiIling. of human blood.
Steyn, who is, fear breaking up physi-
cally,- voted for continuing the struggle,
but his influence, counts Tor little beside
that Of the pugnacious, plump, sWart,
saturnine Christian De Wet, who is the
real burgher master Of the Free State. De-
,lareys was practically the only bellicose
voice raised for war to the bitter, end
from the Transvaal. Mr.. sReitz, the state
secretary, need not be too seriously con-
sidered. But let; this justice be done to
General Delarey, who deserves the need
of honest mems praise; he said: If the
commanders or burghers accept the Eng
lish flag will abide by their verdict and
come in, for l have done my duty. II
not, / will die in the field, fighting for the
old government and the old flag" At last
the voices Of the Boer women-or, at any
rate, majority Of them-are now for
peace, and that has not been without it's
influence for settlements in the delibera-
tons. -:ta>--z.t :.
Beers Keep Faith.
To get to the back of any mans mind
is not usually an easy task. 1t is almost
an impossible one when the stolid, taci-
turn, selfsufficient Boer is the subject of
the operation. I would not be dealing
not state that there are those among the
Beers now demanding settlement and
peace who seek to and; would use these as
means to conspire for the abrogation Of
all the, conditions they are to- day so
anxious ito sign. But the sense of fair
ness. the pride of keeping their plighted
word, will, I believe, weigh with the vast
majority and the peace will be a last
ing peace if the terms do not assign away
oxyfnt nr,Se inhf &c Pnffa in,
mercy's name, to flight to finish than
tolerate such settlement, for bitterness
and contention carried into civil life are
more deadly to nationhood than war in
the field between men. The future danger
if not guarded against, will come from the
former evil element; in South Africa, in
triguing foreigners, who were, mostly
Hollanders: Brer Boer. left to himself,
readily strikes up fast and lifelong
friendships with our countrymen.
To give suceinct account of the con-
duct of the negoti ations. is difficult but
not impossible. The customary ambargo
was laid upon our cabling news. Even let
tiers, mark you, were not yet out Of the
censors list, and as for the claim of our
press to be informed of all matt ers of
public Importance that is an extravaganza
dream. The statement of the Boer case
and claims was reduced to writing more
than once. Const ant communication was
maintained as to the course of proceed
lngs between Pretoria and London. Final
ly, when the proposals were drafted into
something like conditions that could real
ly4be; entertained, the text was wired to
the colonial secretary. Thereafter came
back In answer on Thursday, think, the
British governments irreducible mini
mum. Lord Miner had several days pre-
viously received a very long message in
cipher, setting out the home authorities
views and Instructions - -.
Almost Failure.
The negotiations were nearly broken off
more than once, but the departing Beers
delayed departing, and started to talk
matters over afresh with each. other.
Nothing is ever lost to Boer for want
OF asking. In the beginning OF the palaver
the delegates "opened their mouths
monstrous wide. There was a declaration
that England had unjustly provoked and
made war upon, the, republics; that the
struggle was an unequal one, and they
wished for peace. They were able to con-
tinue the war for some time, but to stop
further effusion Of blood they would cease
hostilities provided that within a year
civil government was restored to the two
states. They stipulated that, pending that
and the. withdrawal of the troops, they
should be represented by an actual major
lIy OF at least four out OF seven upon any
administrative council formed to conduc,
the government 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 TransvaaI
and Orange Free States, and these two
| countries should be recognized as indie
pendent republics.
How the End Was Reached. s
In that 'purgatory'' period there should
be no Acknowledgement of burghers, and
the Boer, officials should have control OF
the reins of government; and, further
they, would agree to amend the franchise
law, as formerly asked for by England
and would allow British subjects to vote
and also permit the use of the two, Ian
guages. There was to be a general
amnesty for all who had borne arms, in
| GLIDING Cape rebels 1t was tolerantly
pointed out by Lord Kitchener. that such
demands were unreasonable, intolerab BILE
impossible. The process of cutting dowr
seemed YEARLY slow, but bit by bit they
numbered from stage to stage as it was
| seen that otherwise they would have to &C
back to their commanders without any
message. Ultimately the matter was put
| in a manner from which there was nc
| trimming possible by the British govern.
ment, setting forth the terms they woult
| concede and not go beyond These were
| substantially the same conditions as were
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