The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-24
.ANGLO-BOER PEACE AT HAND
GERMANY ADVISED TT IS PRdC-
 TICALLY ASSURED.

biegram from the German Consul as
 Pretoria -Declsion of British Cabinet
 -nritish War Secretary Makes signifi-
 cant Statement.
 Berlin, May 23.-The foreign office here has been advised tonight from
 Pretoria that peace in South Africa is
 practically concluded. The articles of
 surrender are ready to be signed, With
 the exception that the approval of the
 British cabinet of the wording ot the
 secondary provisions is awaited. The suspension of hostilities may be an-
 nounced al any hour.
 This intelligence, it is understood,
 reaches Baron Richtoff, the foreign sec
 retary, through privileged cipher ca-
 blegram from the German consul at
 Pretoria.
 London, May 24-After the cabinet council ended yesterday a meeting ot the inner committee of the cabinet was held After this meeting MT, Chamber lain the colonial secretary, proceeded to Buckingham palace, where he had an audience with King Edward MT
 Chamberlain returned to Buckingham palace a second time in the evening.
 Lord Salisbury has gone to Hatfield House and the other ministers have dis persed.
 It is understood that the Boer demand for independence has now been com pletely abandoned, but that certain points concerning amnesty, compensa- tion and representative government
 were submitted to the cabinet, together with minor matters, and that at the meeting of the cabinet committee the governments reply to these points was prepared and that this reply was cabed to Pretoria.
 None of the points at issue is regard ed as imposing an insuperable barrled to the early conclusion of peace.
 The Daily News claims to give the Boer demands as follows; First, either an immediate grant of self-government, or, failing in that, to fix date for the establishment of self-government; sec ond, in case government be defer red that the Boers should be entitled to advise with their temporary rulers; third, amnesty for the rebels; fourth, permission to retain their rifles for de- fense against the natives; fifth, pernis- sion to retain their saddle horses; sixth, a guarantee that the natives should not be treated upon an equality with white men, and, seventh, that no limit shall be placed upon the money for rebuild ing and restocking the farms.
 The Daily News is of the opinion that, with the exceptions in the matters of self government, the retention of sad dle horses and the right to advise with their rulers, the answers to these de- mands will be generally of acqules- cence.
 London, May 23.-The Associated Press has every reason to believe that peace in South Africa is practically as- sured. How soon it will be announced depends, apparently more upon the convenience of the Boer leaders than upon the inclination of the British gov- ernment. The private and official ad- vices received tonight in London from South Africa all point to the same con- clusion. The delay is technical and to end the long war seems to be the desire of both British and Boer leaders. The | latter, however, are unable to convince all their followers of the wisdom of &C., quiescing to the terms of peace.
 Informa ton as to what transpired at | to-day's meeting of the cabinet is close Iy guarded. but it is not likely that the cabinet transactions were of vital im- port The surmise of one well informed person places the sum total of the de- 1ibera tions of the cabinet ministers at decision regarding points of the peace agreement of entirely minor import ance. Another surmise is that the cab inet has merely sent q rather mock ul- timatum to South Africa which can be used by the Boer leaders in explanation to their forces. Both these surmises probably contain an element of truth, but neither can in any way affect the widespread belief In the best informed quarters that the end of the war has come Tn fact, those persons who are best acquainted with the actual details of the present negotiations only qualify this optimistic expression of opinion by gua rded reservations concerning the ex- tent of the personal control of the Boer leaders over their commands Were the Boers thoroughly disciplined force dependent upon the action of their officers-peace would proba bly, be procla imed tonight; but Botha De Wet and the other generals seem them- selves unable positively to guarantee the degree to which their example will be followed. The delegates at Vereeniging, accord Ing to information in possession of the war office, are fairly evenly divided. extreme precautions are exercises both In London and Pretoria 10 prevent any prema ture action or re- port which might adversely influence the burghers The most pessimistic forecast heard tonight only admits that few isolat- f d bands of irreconcila bles may be left nthe field A member of the House of Commons who. is in close touch with the govern : nent said to representative of the Associated Press tonight that he be- ieved everything was settled and that , he British terms would be found unex- liberal. The British public is still quite ignor- mt of the course of events in South Af- ica, and there are no demonstra tions o-night on the London streets, al- hough on all sides the question asked $, "Is 1t peaee?"