The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-03-28
SIGNS OF PEACE SEEN
Representatives of the Boer Gov
eminent Visit Lord Kitch-
ener at Pretoria.
HOW LONDON TAKES TIE NEWS
Many Do Not Believe DeWet and De-
iarey Could Be Induced to
Surrender,

London, March 25.-The Associated
Press has good reason to believe that
lord Kitchener, in his interview with
Mr.. SchallS Burger, agreed to with
draw the punishment proclamation is
sued in September if General Dewet
and the other Boer leaders surrendered
In the house of commons the war
secretary, Mr. Brodrick. announced
that fortnight ago Mr.. Schalk-Burger
intimated to Lord Kitchener his desire
to be granted safe conduct through
the British lines and back. in order to
see Mr. Steyn with reference to the pos
sihility of peace proposals. Lord
Kitchener, with the consent of the gov
eminent, has acceded to the request.
The announcement of the war secre-
tary was received with cheers.
The Feeling in London.
There is little disposition in London
TO regard the news of the Boer govern
ment's visit to Pretoria Saturday any
too hopefully. Official circles express
the doubts, held throughout. of the
ability of Acting President Schalk-B Bur
gre and the other civilian leaders Of
the Beers to induce such men as Gen
erals Dewet and Delarey to surrender.
Possibly, they think, the representa-
tives of the Transvaal government are
DESTROYS of suing for peace. but there
is nothing to show that they have any
authority to impose submission on the
commanders in the field. The most
hopeful sign they see is the announce
ment that Lord Kitchener permitted
Mr. ScbO Tx and his cOlnnoninnS
to proceed to the Orange River Colony,
the contention being that unless the
British coinmander-in-chief in South
Africa. who is on the spot and there
fore most thoroughly conversant with
the situation. recognized the possibility
Of fruitful results and believed in the
good faith of the Transvaalers. he
would not have permitted the visitors
to continue their pilgrimage to the
headquarters of their Orange River
Colony allies. The same cautious re-
serve permeates the newspaper utter
ances. and the comment in Well-iIl-
formed circles.
Advice Carried Out.
Some significance is attached to the
fact that, in approaching Lord Kitch-
ener, Mr.. Schalk-E urger and those as
w
the letter the advice given by the
British foreign secretary, Lord Lans-
GOWne, i'll his reply to the peace note
OF the Netherlands government, that
the quickest and most satisfa Glory
means for arranging a settlement
would be by direct communication be-
tween the leaders of the Beers and the
British cOmmander-in-chief in South
f,.;o l,<
the Transvaai mission received any
mandate from the fighting generals
or that the latter are prepared to rec
ognize the authority of their acting
president. Mr.. lk-Burger. to ne
gotiate terms for peace. Presumably
the latter satisfied Lord Kitchener
that he had certain clearly defined pro-
posals to submit to his ally. President
Steyn, but the best information from
South Africa deprecates any belief i'll
the likelihood Of a simultaneous sur
render of the burghers still in the field
OH the order of the Boer government
Almost the best to be hoped for is that
the present overtures will SO modify
the situation as to bring peace nearer.
What Newspapers Say.
The Westminster Gazette urges that
any peace DEODOSdI S1OuIu De regard
eel on it's merits, pointing out that the
ungenerous assumption that the pre-
vious BOer OvertureS were signs Of
weakness contributed largely to the
failures of the negotiations.
The Pail Mail Gazette would like
TO think that the brave, skillful COM
manders, Dewet and Delarey, have ar
rived at the height of moral courage.
once attained by General Lee. and
have realized that the truest patriot
ism does not consist in the prOlonga-
ton of a hopeless struggle" The pa
per cOnfesses, however, that the mill
tary situation is not suspicious for
such q change Of mind.
The st. James Gazette extracts from
the unilluminative dispatches thus far
received from Pretoria the theory that
Mr., SchalkBurger and the other mem,
bers of his party have possibly al
ready surrendered and have been re-
leased on parole for the purpose of see
ing President Steyn and General De
wet.
The news from South Africa had 4
generally good effect on the stock OK
change
10 Has -,