The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-05
ANSWER OF LANSDOWNE
Intervention by Foreign
 Power Will Be Rejected.
Peace Negotiations Can Be Entered Into, But the Burghers Who are Under Arms Must
 Sue for. Terms.

London, Feb. 1.-The British Govern ment replied to pr. Kuyper, the Dutch Premier, that if the Boers in the field de- sire to negotiate for peace, negotiations can be entered into; but. only in South Africa.
 The British Government adheres to it's intention not to accept the intervention of any foreign power.
 The text of the reply of Lord Lans- downe the British Foreign Secretary, to the communication of pr. Kuyper, the Premier of the Netherlands. is as fol- lows:
 "The Foreign Ofice, January @.
 ''Sir-You were good enough. to lay before me, January 25, a communication from the Netherland Government, In which it was proposed that with the ob- ject of bringing the war to an end, his majesty's government might grant safe conduct to the Boer delegates now in Holland, for the purpose of enabling them to confer with the Boer leaders in South Africa.
 Tt is suggested that, after a confer ence. the delegates might return to Eu- rope with power to conclude treaty of peace with this country, and the Nether- lands Government intimates that, in this event, they might. at later stage. be instrumental in placing the Boer plenipo- tentiaries in relation with plenfpotentia- ries who might be appointed by his ma jesty's Government. His majesty's Gov ernment have given 1t their best consider ation, and whilst entirely appreciative of the motives of humanity which led the Netherlands Government to make this proposal, they feel they must adhere to the position adopted and publicity an- nounced by them some months after the commencement of the hostilities by the Boers. that 1t is not their intention to accept the intervention of any foreign power in the South African war;
 'Should the Boer delegates themselves desire to, lay a rsapest for a. safe conduct before his majesfy's Government. there is no reason why they should not do so.
 "I may, therefore. point out that it is not at present clear to his majesty's Gov ernment that the delegates retain any in- fuence over the representatives of the Boers in South Africa. or have any voice in their councils. His majesty's Govern ment, on the other hand, understands that all the powers of Government, in- cluding those of negotiation, were now completely vested in MT. Styn, for the Boers of the Orange River Colony. and MT. Schaly-Burger, for those of the Transvaal. If this is so. it is evident that the quickest and most satisfactory means of arranging a settlement would be by direct communication between the leaders of the Boer forces in South Africa and the commander-in-chief of his majesty's forces, who has already been instructed to forward immediately any offers he may receive. His majesty's Government has decided that if the Boer leaders should desire to enter into nego- tiations for the purpose of bringing the Swar to an end. these negotiations must take place, not in Europe, but in South Africa. Otherwise, hostilities would be prolonged and much human suffering. perhaps, needlessly occasioned.
 "I have, etc,
 ISigneO lIansdowne."
 The text of the communication of the Dutch Minister in London to Lord Lans- downe Is as follows:
 Tn the opinion of the government of her majesty, the Queen. the exceptional circumstances in which one of the beili- gerent parties in South Africa is placed, which prevent it from communicating directly with the other belligerent. con- stitute one reason for the prolongation of the war which is still raging without pause or end. and which causes so much misery It is in fact. an exceptional circumstance that one of the belligerent parties is completely shut in and sepa- rated from the rest of the world, and that the Boer representatives in Europe are deprived of all means of communicating with the general commanding their forces. The difficulty thus arises that the authorities who ought to negotiate for the Boer side are divided into two sections which are deprived of all means of deliberating together. The delegates fin Europe are bound by their letters of credence which, were drawn up in March 1qn0 which bind them so strictly to the independence of the republics that they could not even he permitted to accept the re-est a ablishment of the status quo ante hallum if a mode of settled disputes which might arise were not laid down at the same time.
 "These circumstances give rise to d question whether offer of good offices could not be usefully made by neutral power, in order to render at least possi- hle negotiations confined to the task of placing in communication negotiators to he appointed by the two parties, the Holland Government might perhaps. be considered as indicated for the perform. ance of this task. If his britannia ma Iestv's government should agree to this view the government of her majesty. the Queen, would have to inquire of the Boer delegates whether they are willing to pro- ceed to Africa and deliberate with the Boer leaders on the spot, returning to Europe after a stay of fixed length, say a fortnight armed with adequate. full nowers providing for all eventualities and authorizing them to conclude a treaty of peace which should bind abso- Iutely both the Boers in Europe and the Boers in Africa.
 "In the event of an affirmative reply if would be necessary for his Britannia maiesty's government to hand the Notberland's Government three safe con- ducts permitting the Boer delegates to Droceed freely to Africa, remain there freely for the time agreed upon. and re- turn freely to Europe. It would further he necessary for the British Government to allow the use of a telegraph code. with q view of appointing a place where the S.lo.ates could meet the Boer leaders. m their return the Netherlands Govern rasut could place them in communica-