Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-02-05
TO END BOER WAR
Great Britain Willing to
Hear Overtures tor
Peace.
CONDITIONS STIPULATE NEGO~
TlATiONS MUST BE IN
TRANSVAAL.
England Positively Refuses to Accept
Intervention Of Any Foreign
Power
SAFE CONDUCT FOR THE BoERs

London. Feb. 5.-The British gov
ernment replied to DR.. Kuyper, the
Dutch premier, that if the Beers in the
field desire to negotiate for peace, ne
gotiations can be entered into but
only in South Africa. The British GOV
eminent adheres to it's intention not to
accept the intervention of any foreisn
power.
The text of the reply of Lord I.ans
doWne, the British foreign secretary,
to the communication of the Neither
lands, is as follows
The Foreign Office, January %
Sir: You We're good enough to Law be
fore NE, January 25, communication
from the Netherlands government. in
which it proposes that with the object
of bringing the war to an end, his
MaJesty's government might grant 2
safe conduct to the Boer delegates
now in Holland for the purpose of
enabling them to confer with the Boer
leaders in South Africa. 1t is suggest
ed that after a conference the dele
gates might return to Europe with
power to conclude treaty of peace
with this country, and the Neither
lands government intimate that in
this event they might, at later
stage be instrumental in placing the
Boer plenipotentiaries in relation with
plenipotentiaries who might be ap.
pointed by his majesty's government
His majesty's government, having
given their best consideration, and
while entirely appreciative of the mo-
tive of humanity which led the Meth
erlands government to make this pro-
posal. they feel they must adhere to
the position adopted and publicly an.
nounced by them some months after
the commencement of the hostilities
by the Beers. that it is not their in
tention to accept the intervention Of
any foreign power in the South Afri-
can war.
"Should the Boer delegates them
selves desire to lay request for
safe conduct before his majesty's gov
ernment there is no reason why they
should not do So
Il may, therefore point out that it
is not at present clear to his majes-
tvs government that the delegates re-
tain any influence over the represen-
tatives Of the Beers in South Africa
or have any voice in their councils
His majesty's government, on the 9th
er hand, understands that all the pow
ers of government, including those of
vested in Mr. Steyn for the Beers of
the Orange River coloney and Mr.
Schalk-Burger for those Of the Trans
vaal. If this is so, it is evident that
the quickest and most satisfactory
means of arranging settlement
would be by direct communication
between the leaders of the Boer
forces in South Africa and the com
mander in-chief of his majesty's
forces. who has already been instruct
ed to forward Immediately any offers
he may receive. His ma iesty's GOV
ernment has decided that if the Boer
leaders should desire to enter into ne
gotiations for the purpose of bring
ing the war to an end. these negotia
tions must take place not in Europe
but in South Africa. Otherwise hos
tilities would be prolonged and human
suffering, perhaps, needlessly occas-
ioned | have. etc,
(Signed) "LANDSDOWNE.
The text of the communication Of
the Dutch minister in London to Lord
Lansdowne is as follows:
I'm the opinion of the government
of her majesty, the queen, the excep
tional circumstances in which one Of
the belligerent parties in South Afri-
ca is place, which prevent it from