Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-04-19
FOR PEACE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
BELIEVE THE END Is NEAR.
A Cabinet Meeting of the Ministers
HeId-It VIII Take Time Tn EiO
Final Terms-TaXes VIII Re
Rnised-Nlinistry Waits for Word
From Kitchener

London, April 14.-"Peace is within
measurable distance" That probably
sums up the present crop of rumors
conjectures and deductions which has
Great Britain by the ears. Us it
peace?' meets the eye in glazing pos.
tiers OF newspapers and the question
is re-echoed throughout the United
Kingdom. AS pointed out and con
tirmed by Mr.. Balfour, the government
leader in the house of commons. the
reports of the definite end of a con.
fllct of such length, involving so MANY
lasting and intricate issues being
reached probably without any time he
ing devoted to negotiations. are nalna
bly, premature 1t is announced that
the ministers at the meeting. which
lasted an hour, discussed a communi
cation from Lord Kitchener. This is
quite within reason and government
circles expect several similar mes
sages from Lord Kitchener before anv.
thing definite can be announced. While
Lord Kitcheners message NAV have
been of vital importance. the Associ.
ated Press has good reasons to believe
that the sudden summons of the cabi.
net ministers was due to q desire 10
decide whether or not the presentation
OF the budget could be postponed I'M
TIL the Klerksdorph negotiations are
settled one way or the other.
Whatever the proposals of the chan.
cellor of the eXchequer, Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach, may be, they are bound
to be greeted by storms of criticism
from various quarters. Peace will not
modify the crying need of additional
revenue, but it would take off the
sting from the additional taxation,
which is bound to raise a protest of
protestation from every class of in
dustry affected. In the national iubi.
latlon over the end of the war these
industrial protests will be lost to
sight. It would be no surprise if il
is announced on Monday that the
budget presentation once more has
been postponed, and If this does not
take place parliamentary circles will
regard it as one of the best omens that
the government practically is assured
OF a successful termination of the
Klerksdorph conference.
The cabinet council today, while il
probably did not fulfill the sensation.
ally attributed function of deciding be.
tween peace or war, undoubtedly re-
viewed the entire situation, both as
regards finance and the situation In
South Africa. How complicated and
impossible of off-hand solution is the
latter question can be judged by III
apparently authentic statement pub-
lished in the Edinburgh News this
afternoon
While there is no reason to believe
that this is not a semioficial summary
of the Beers demand, there is also
reason to think that they may be
modified. How strongly the govern
ment shares that hone may be Judged
from the fact that the London police
officials today were ordered to keen
large forces in order to avoid anv
repetition Of "Mafeking night" which.
it is feared, might ensue should the
conclusion of peace be announced.
1t was ascertained late tonight that
another cabinet meeting had been ar.
ranged for tomorrow afternoon.