New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-14
IN MIDNIGHT SESSION.
BRITISH CABINET MEETS AZ
MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S HONE.
OFFICIAL ACTIVITY IN LONDON OVER
PEACE NEWS FROM SOUTH
AFRICA.

ESPECIAL TO The Tribune by French Cable.l
London, April IA, 1 a m.-For once in a way
Sunday was not dies in the government Of
fees. At the Colonial Department and the
Treasury the officials were very busy yesterday
and messengers were constantly passing from
one office to the other This extraordinary de-
partmental activity following two meetings
of the Cabinet On Saturday. has been responsible
for a fresh stock Of peace runlors- 1t is known
that the Klerks6orp conference has ended, and
that the Boer leaders arrived at Pretoria on
Saturday. The presumption is that they in
formed General Kitchener Of the conditions on
which they would agree to peace, and that the
British commander Immediately communicated
them to the War Office. A meeting of the inner
ring Of the Cabinet. including the Duke of Dew
onshire Mr.. Chamberlain, Mr. Brodrick and Sir
Michael Bicks-Beach, was held at midnight in
the Colonial Secretary's private residence in
Princes Gardens and il is believed that the
Boer terms were under consideration. This be-
lief was strengthened by the fact that Mr..
Chamberlain had q two hours audience with
the King at buckingham Palace yesterday 1t
10 noteworthy that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach
IVES ut the Treasury for some time during the
day, possibly altering the financial proposals at
the eleventh hour The anxiously awaited Bud
get scheme will be revealed by the Chancellor
ot the Exchequer this evening but Parliament
viii be disappointed if the government cannot
also see its way to make some definite an
nouncerent as to the result Of the conference
Of Beer leaders at Klerksdorp though it is con-
sdered scarcely probable that all the difficulties
In the way Of a settlement have yet been ad-
tusted.
Tie South African situation is discussed in all
.ts bearings by to-days newspapers. 1t is taken
for granted that the Beers are ready to surren-
der their independence, and that the negotia-
ttons comprise a number of points which it
will be necessary to have precise understand
ing The leader writers generally agree to the
withdrawal Of the banishment proclamation, but
only few of them approve Of amnesty for the
Cape rebels.
Two newspapers attempt to forecast the bud
get this morning. One OF them estimates that
there will be deficit of f30.000,000, while the
other puts the figure high as f35000O0N.
Germany's efforts TO extend and open up col
onies not very successful from financial
point Of view. The total annual revenue of the
eight protectorates which are under the rule of
the Kaiser is only S20e0ooo and the Reichstag
has to vote 81 5000 TO support them. Kiao
Chau's revenue is SQ00 and a subsidy Of
So 600 900 is required TO make both ends meet.
Again the revenue of the protectorate of South
west Africa amounts to S450o0o while the total
sum required for its government is S2,000,oOo.
But even these yearly subsidies Go not always
represent the full amounts that have to he pro
ysded out Of the imperial funds. The estimates
for the present year include the sum o5 $4,000
to cover deficits that occurred IL 1895 aca 1899
In the budgets OF the protectorGtes Of East
Africa the Camerocns and Southwest Africa.
Robert S. Mccormick American Ambassador
to Austria left London yesterday for Vienna,
accompanied by Mrs Mccormick and her niece