The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-02-08
WOULD TREAT NTH BOERS
Is THE REPLY OF LAHsDOwHE.
England Ready 40 Negotiate wItb
the Boers Who Are Now in the
FieId-oHtaide Powers Are Given
Notice Not 40 Interfere, ms II DOCS
Not Concern Them.

/ London, Feb. 0.-11se text Of the reply
Ioi Lord LaRsd0Hne, the British foreign
secretary, 10 the communication Of Dr.
knyPer, the premier Il the Netherlands,
1 j. ss follows:
Tine Foreign Office, Jan 20, Ig02.-sir:
You were good enough 70 lay before me
January % q communication from the
Netherlands government, In which il was
proposed, sith vieN To bringing the war
to an end, his mAiesty's government might
grant safe conduct 10 tie Beer dele
gates now in Holland for the purpose Of
enabling them to confer with the Beer
leaders in south Africa. 1t is suggested
that after conference the delegates might
netnTn 10 Europe with power 10 conclude
a treaty Of peace with this country, and
the Netherlands goyernm NJ intim4 Is tat
an this event they might at a Later stage
De Instrumental IN placing the Boer pleai-
Potentlaries in relation WIth plenip5teat r
ies who might be appointed by his ma
leStys government The Netherlands gov
ernnlent inimstes that if this protest con-
neAds itself to his malesty's government
they viii inquire Of the delegates whether
they are prepared TO make The suggested
visit 10 south Africa.
l 1T may, therefore, be inferred that the
communica lion received was made On the
responsibility Of the Netherlands govern
ment alone and without authority Of tie
Boer delegates o. leaders tbs msjestys
government has given il their best eonsad-
Grafton, ami Whiie entirely appreciatlye Of
the motives Of humanity winch led the
AeilRIlsnds government 10 make tllis pro
Posal, they tee that they must adhere 10
the position adopted and publicly an
noanoed by them some months after the
cOunmeno meut oi hostilities by the Boess,
that il Nas not their intention 10 accept
tie intervention Of any foIeign poaer IA
the south African war.
SHOULD the BOer delegates themselves
desire 10 lay a request ior a safe conduct
before his mslesly's government thrfe Is
NJ reason Why they should not do 80.
But Gis mslesiys government obviously is
E mot IN position 10 express an opinion On
I such an application until they have re
= oiyed II ami are aware Of tle precise IA.
e ture and grounds wherein the request Is
), made
J Il may, therefore, point out that il is
1 not 81 present clear 70 has msjesiys g5s-
erIsmEni that the delegates retain any in
! uneHoe over the representatives Of the
I BocIs in South Africa q have any voice
e IA their councils. Ihey arr stated by the
G Netherlands government 10 have no suca
& letters OF credenoe ca instruction oI LATER
date than March, 1890. His majesty gov
GTnment, On the other hand, understood
that all the powers Of government, inelud-
ing those OF negotiations, were RoS CON-
, pietely vested IN Mr.. Steyn for The Beers
Of the Orange River Colony and AIR.
schslkbcrger iOr those Of the TransraAl.
Iii ihis Is 50, il Is evident that the
! quickest and most satisfactory means u
arranging a se.ueneni would be by direct
communication between the leaders OF the
Boers in South Africa and the commander
e ia chief Of his maiesty's forces, who Ia;
e already been instructed to forward ina.
q meiiateiy any oilers be may noeiye iol
J. the consideration Of his majestys 60, ern
+ ment.
5 In this connection his mAjesty's gov
L eminent has decided that ii the Beer lead
: ers should desire to enter negotiations f0i
the purpose Of bringing the war to an end
those negotiations must take place, not IN
Europe, but in South Africa.
Q lit should, moreover, be borne in mind
that ii the Boer leaders are TO occupy
Z time in visiting South Africa in consulting
Z with Beer leaders in the field and in ne
e turning to Europe Tor the purpose Of max
r ing known the results OF their erTand a
( period OF at least three months would
> elaps, during which hostilities would he
} prolonged and much human Suffering, per
/ haps neeilessly, occasioEed. / have, etc,
"l-ANSDOWNE.~