Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31
Peace Proclamation Anxiously
Awaited by People.
EXPECT NEWS MONDAY
ALL EYES NOW TURNED ON GEN.
KITCHENER.
Probability That He Will Be Richly
Rewarded for His
Services.

LONDON. May 3I.-If a definite an
nouncement of peace in South Africa is
made on Monday as expected that night
will bid fair to rival the celebration which
occurred when the relief of Mafeking was
officially announced in May, 1900. Through
out London arrangements have already
been made for numerous peace dinners. The
aristocracy will "Maffick' on no small scale
and doubtless the denizens OF Whitechapel
and the various East End quarters Will in
wade the Strand and other thoroughfares
with their wild exultation.
For Monday afternoon every seat in the
house of commons is already pre-empted.
If the statement of the government leader,
A. j. Balfour, comes up to expectations 1T
tie will be done in the united Kingdom that
day. except eXultation over the end OF the
war that has tried the spirit of the nation
to its uttermost. Already the wiseacres are
saving that Lord Kitchener Will be made
an earl and receive the thanks OF narlia-
ment, accompanied by substantial grant
of money.
Popularity of Kitchener.
one of the most curious features OF the
war is the remarkable way in which Lord
Kitchener has deepened the awesome re-
spect akin to fear, with which the British
nation regards him and his laconic reports.
and his utterly independent prosecution OF
the campaign in South Africa has height
ened his military reputation to such an eN-
tent that he has actually become god TO
the average mau-iu-the-street. Yet he is
universally admitted to have next to moth
ing in common with his cOuntrymen or their
government. As Lord kitchener's star has
ascended so has Lord Roberts d. cl.ned. The
genial optimism of the old fighter who is
now commander-in-chef CRATES SO bitterly
upon a people severely overtaXed for the
war which Lord Roberts long ago de-
clared finished that the spontaneous popu-
larity which made him the hero of the jubi-
lee procession could never be repeated at
the coronation. Indeed, ii is more likely to
be transformed into a hostile demonstra-
tion. in which General Buffers name may
be greeted with cheers.
Peace the Great Question.
However. peace is undoubtedly the ques-
tion of the hour. and Lord Kitchener is
once more the man-of-the- moment. Lord
Miner may may not have played an i'm
portant part in the peace negotiations, but
popular and political opinions assign to
the ex-sirdar of the Egyptian forces the
bringing about of the present negotiations.
This feeling is by no means confined To out
siders. Great financial magnates whose In
formation regarding the conditions In South
Africa has often been better than the gov
ernments and whose interests there are al
most as great as the empires, declare that
Lord Kitchener is the savior of his coun-
try.
Those I'm touch with royal circles are
busy gossiping about the reported tiff be-
tween Lord Salisbury and King Edward.
which is said to have arisen on account of
the kings demand that the premier recon-
mend Sir Ernest CasSel for a peerage. Last
year the same request met with a refusal
This year ii was again urged by tn. king
on the ground of Sir Ernests mun;ficent
gift of f20o.00O toward the cure of con-
HON,
to countenance the suggestion. and at the
end of stormy interview. which occurred
the day the state dinner was held at Buck
ingham Palace, Lord Salisbury remarked:
well, sir, 1 suppose | had better leave
my place at tonights banquet Nacant?" TO
which the king is said to have replied:
Yes. l think you had and stalked out
of the room Since then, according to
court gossip. King Edward and his aged
prime minister have scarcely been on
speaking terms.
Another Royal Tiff.
Another incident which is causing consid-
cradle commotion IN royal circles is the
disagreement between King Edward and
the Duchess of Buccleuch, a membor Of
the old-style. exclusive aristocracy, who
has not countenanced the so-called smart
set" The king was to dine with the Duke
and Duchess of Buccleuch. and intimated
his desire that = lady of his surrounding
be invit sd This is usually tantamount to
a commard, but the Duchess Of Buccleuch,
nothing daunted. refused point-blank to
ask the kings friend to make one of the
dinner party. His majesty was furious.
and threatened to cancel his promise to
dine with the Buccleuchs. whereat the Ouch
ess of Buccleuch retorted that she was
quite willing to send her resignation.
mistress of the robes, to Queen Alexandra.
Later in the day the king thought better
of it, informed the Buccleuchs that he
cepted the exclusion of his fayorite, and
forbade the duchess to resign.
Many members of the nobility, especially
old country families, make no secret OF
their disapproval of various events in the
kings social life