Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-04
BO[RS MUST ACT FIRST
Text OF the Reply OF Great Brit.
ain to Dutch Premier's
Note.
Courteous But Firm Refusal to
Accept Intervention OF Any
Government.
Negotiations for Peace Must
Originate With Beers in
South Africa.

Yondon. Feb. 4.-Bulletin-Ihe BRIT
Ssh government has replied 10 ~
Kuyper, Dutch premier, that IL 'he
Roers in the field desire to negoua,a
for neace. negotiations can be entered
into: but, only in South Africa. Inc
British government adheres TO It's IN
tent,on not to accept intervention OF
any foreign power.
The text of the reply of Lansdowne,
British foreign secretary, to the com
munication of DR.. kuyper. premier OF
the Netherlands, is as follows:
.Sir: You were good enough to lay
before me, January %, communlca-
fion from the Netherlands government
in which it was proposed that, Win
the object of bringing the war to ali
end, his majesty's government might
grant safe conduct to the Boer dele
gates now in Holland. for the purpose
of enabling them TO CONFER Win
the Boer leaders in South AFRICA. II
is suggested, that, after the conference,
the delegates might return TO EUROPE
with power to conclude treaty OF
peace with this country; and the Meth
erlands government intimates that IN
This event, they might, at later stage,
be instrumental in placing the Boer
Observation-Disclosures in relation Win
plenipotentiaries who might be ap-
pointed by his majesty's government.
.srhe Netherlands government init
mates that if the project commenas
Itself to his majesty's government they
will inquire of the delegates wethet
they are prepared to make the sug-
/ gested visit to South Africa. 1t may
therefore, be inferred the Netherlands
government alone and without author-
fty from the Boer delegates or lead
ers OF his majesty's government nave
given it their best consideration, ana
whilst entirely appreciative of the mo-
Ives Of humanity which led the Meth
.rland's government to make this
proposal, they feel they must adhere
70 the position adopted and publicly
announced by them some months after
The commencement of hostilities by the
Beers, that it is not their intention tc
accent the intervention of any foreign
mower in the South African war.
Should the Boer delegates themselves
desire to lay the request for safe con :
duct before his majesty's government
here is no reason why they shoula
aot do so. But his majesty's govern
nent obviously, are not in position
3 express an opinion on any such
Indication until they have received II
and are aware of the precise nature
and grounds whereor the request Is
made. may, therefore. point out that
1t is not at present clear to his ma
1esty.s government that the delegates
retain any influence over the repre-
sentatives of the Beers in South AT
rica, or have any voice in their coun-
ellis. They are stated by the
Netherlands government to have
no such letters of credence or
instruction of a later date than March,
1900. His majestys government. on the
other hand, understood that all powers
cf government, including those of ne
Hotiation, were now completely vested
in Steyn for the Beers of the Orange
River Colony and Schalkburger for
those of the Transvaal If this is so. 1t
Is evident the quickest and most salts
factory means of arranging settle
ment would be by direct communica-
ton between the leaders of the Boer
forces in South Africa and the COM
naander- -in-c chief of his majestys forces.
who have already been instructed to
forward Immediately any offers he may
receive for the consideration of his
majesty's government. In these cir
cumstances his inajesty's government
has decided that if the Boer leaders
should desire to enter into negotiations
for the purpose of bringing the war to
an end these negotiations must take
place, not in Europe, but in South At
rica.
TT should. moreover, be borne in
mind that If the Boer leaders are to oc-
cupy the time in visiting South Africa,
in consulting with the Boer leaders in
the field, and in returning to Europe
for the purpose of making known the
results of their errand. a period of at
least three months would elapse, during
which hostilities would be prolonged
and much human suffering, perhaps.
needlessly occasioned."
YUNG LU IN POWER.