The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-05
.,,,1 ACCEPT NO FOREIGN INTER-
VENTION.
LORD LANSDoWNE's REPLY.
GOVERNMENTS POSITION FULLY
SET FORTH.

II Is shown That They Are at
ate.
London. Feb 4.-The British govern
,nent replied to Dr. Kuyper, the Dutch
nremier, that If the Beers in the
field desire to negotiate for peace, ne
gotiations can be entered into, but on
" in South Africa The British gov
ernment adheres to its intention not
M accept the intervention of any for
eign power.
The text of the reply of Lord Lans-
downe to the communication of The
Netherlands is as follows:
The Foreign Office, Jan. 29.-Sir:
You were good enough to lay before
me jan 25 a communication from The
Netherlands government in which it
was proposed that with the object of
bringing the war to an end, His Maj
esty's government might grant safe
conduct to the Boer delegates now in
Holland for the purpose of enabling
them to confer with the Boer leaders
in South Africa. 1t is suggested that,
after a conference, the delegates might
return to Europe with power to con-
clude a treaty of peace with this
country, and the Netherlands govern
ment intimate that in this event they
might, at a later stage, be instrumental
in placing the Boer plenipotentiaries in
relation with plenipotentiaries who
might be appointed by His Majesty's
government. The Netherlands govern
ment intimate that If this project COM
mends itself to His Majesty's govern
ment 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 conmu-
nication received was made on the re-
sponsibility of the Netherlands govern
ment alone and without authority from
the Boer delegates or leaders.
Will Not Permit Intervention.
His majesty's government has
given it their best consideration and
whilst entirely appreciative of the
motives of humanity which led The
Netherlands government to make this
proposal they feel they must adhere
to the positione adopted and publicly
announced by them some months after
the commencement of hostilities by
the Boers that it is not their inten-
tion to accept the Intervention of any
foreign Power in he South African
war.
Should the Boer delegates them
selves desire to lay a request for
safe conduct before his majesty's gov
ernment there is no reason why they
should not do so. But his majesty's
government, obviously are not in a
position to express an opinion on any
such application until they have re-
ceived it and are aware of the precise
nature and grounds whereon the re-
quest is made.
Il may4 therefore, point out that it
is not at present clear to His Majes-
Tvs government that the delegates re-
tain any influence over the representa-
yves of the Beers in South Africa, or
nave any voice in their councils. They
are stated by the Netherlands gov
ernment to have no such letters of Gre
oence or instruction of a later date
than March, 1900. His Majestys gov
ernment. on the other hand, under
stood that all the Powers of govern
ment including those of negotia-
uoh We're now completely vested in
Mr' Steyn for the Beers of the Orange
river Colony, and Mr.. Schalk- Burger
Ior those of the Transvaal. If this is
So 1t is evident that the quickest and
most satisfactory means of arranging
settlement would be by direct COM
nluhlcation between the leaders of the
boef forces in South Africa, and the
Cohmander-in-chief of His Maiesty's
44orces, who has already been instructed
~ LorWard Immediately any offers he
@y receive for the consideration of
Ills Ma1esty's government.
End Must Come in Africa.
os.l IN these circumstances, His Maj
49, government have decided that if
tne boer leaders should desire to en-
of inIo negotiations for the purpose
nouoti iinglng the war to an end, those
F5,a JFgsotla tons must take place not in
Europe but in South Africa.
MI should, moreover, be borne in
nllhd that if the Boer leaders are to
In py time in visiting South Africa,
ea,S sultlng with Boer leaders in the
tha ana in returning to Europe for
s,,Y. purpose of making known the re-
Ieaes IS,es OF their errand, a period of at
us three months would elapse. dur
Low Hhlch hostilities would be pro-
b"seu ana much human suffering per-
Nat,s needlessly occasioned.
"'snedl "Lansdowne."
Plight of the Beers.
me communication of the Dutch
a,iIiseer IN London to Lord Lansdowne
o, go forth that 'the authorities who
ouent TO negotiate on the Boer side
"Ie divided into two sections. which
az ueprlVed of all means of deliber-
Pns together. 1t is evident that the
inr uelegates in Europe can do moth
~ ee because because they do not know the state
IN LIARS er in Africa, and that the Beers
tai,Ie tne neld are obliged to abstain from
coe,,ii c,n,is any steps because they are not
FSIl4ant OF the state of affairs in
Hsope' Moreover, the delegates in
croa1pe are bound by their letters or
Nt1ehce, which were drawn up i'm
10 en' 1900, which bind them so strict
ra,,S,, the independence Of the
e,,uDilcs that they could not
tahii.pe DC permitted to accept the re-es-
I1,, SDinent of the status quo ante bel
VII mode Of settling disputes
~, th might arise were not laid down.
lhe same time"
pes,. 'nese circumstances the note sug-
po,.,. me good Offices of the Holland
,o,,,..n.llent 70 place the two parties in
raes,',' "nlcat tion with each other by
h. sn oi visit OF the Hoer delegates
Bosr 9th Africa 10 deliberate with the
p.,sl., leaders on the spot. for which
pr,.ae II would be necessary Tor the
a0f, government 10 provide three
r.f yhaucts permitting the Boer dele
r.g 20 proceed freely 10 south Africa
freely return.
tt... nei ihRflands government would
''N'laef their tack a. an end.