Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-04-17
HOPES OF PEACE.
DEVELOPMENTS OF PAST FEW
DAYS ENCOURAGING.
Presence OF Boer Leaders at Pretoria One Of
the Hopeful Ssns-Beleved to Indicate
a Willingness to Make Terms-Activity Of
Ministers in London heishtens Expecta.
tions But No Statement is Made.

London, April l3.-The announcement
OF the presence at Pretoria Of the Orange
Free State and Transvaal leaders and
generals, who have been at kierksdorp
considering terms OF peace, has caused a
decided increase in the hopefulness OF
the public concerning the possibilities OF
peace.
The expectations aroused by the con.
ference at Pretoria have been further
heightened by the movements of Mr..
Chamberlain, the colonial secretary apd
other members Of the cabinet in London,
and evidences that important dispatches
are passing between Lord Kitchener and
the government.
The conference of members OF the cabi-
net was held last night at midnight in
Mr.. Chamberlaiu's house. Mr.. Cham
berlain, Mr.. Broderick, the war secre-
tary, Sir Michael Hicks-Bea the chan.
cellor of the exchequer, and the Duke OF
Devonshire, president OF the council,
were present. The conference terminated
at one o'clock this morning, and today
Mr.. Chamberlain and several OF the
colonial officials were in their offices.
Messengers passed between them and
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach at his resi-
dence.
At l 80 O'Clock this afternoon Mr..
Cham berlain drove to Buckingham pal
ace and remained with King Edward for
two hours.
During the afternoon messengers car
ried dispatches from the foreign Office to
Lord Salisbury, who, with Mr. Balfour,
the government leader in the house OF
commons, was at Hatfield house.
No Official Statement.
These outward signs OF Sunday activity
have not been supplemented by an au.
thentic or official statement. The ques.
ton most discussed thus far has been
whether the peace negotiations would
affect the governments financial pro.
posals, which promise to be submitted to
parliament tomorrow. The fact that Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach was engaged in his
Office nearly all of today is taken in some
quarters to indicate modification of the
budget statement.
There appears to be no doubt that the
Boer leaders have communicated the re-
suits of their deliberations to Lord
Kitchener. Attempts will be made in
parliament tomorrow to draw out what
information the government has on the
South African situation, and to learn it,
intentions: but it is not expected that
the government can forecast the probable
outcome of the negotiations. Whatever
instructions have been sent to Lord
Kitchener, they are believed to be only
provisional in character.
London, April 1.-THE comparatively
brief duration of the conferences at
Klerksdrop 10 regarded az an indication
that the Beers found little difficulty in
agreeing upon some basis of negotiation
The transfer Of the negotiations to Pre-.
toria, where both Lord Kitchener and
Lord Miner, the British high commits
sioner in South Africa, are at present, is
interpreted by the morning papers as
meaning that the Beers are prepared to
make formal peace proposals.
The latest reports received here from
the Boer headquarters at Brussels and
The Hague declare that the delegates
will raise no opposition if honorable
terms are granted, and that the Boer
leaders in South Africa have agreed tc
accept the maximum obtainable.