Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-25
BOERS PUZZLE THE WORLD
Burghers' Conference with Kitchener Finds
No Sure Interpretation.
LONDON DOUBTS THAT PEACE IS At HAND
English Are Unable 10 Solve the Prob
lem, While other European Au-
thOrities Ofer COnJec-
turaI Solutions.

LONDON, March 24.-The Associated
Press has good reason to believe that Lord
Kitchener, in his interview with Mr..
schalkburger, agreed to withdraw the ban
ishment proclamation issued 10 September
II General Dewet and the other Boer lead
ers surrendered.
There is little disposition In London to
regard the news Of the Boer governments
visit to Pretoria any too hopefully. on
cial circles express the doubts, held
throughout, of the ability Of Acting Presi-
dent Schalkburger and the other civilian
leaders Of the Beers to induce such men as
Generals Dewet and Delarey to surrender.
Possibly, they think, the representatives
OF the Transvaal government are DESTROYS
Of suing for peace, but there is nothing to
show that they have any authority to i'm
pose submission on the commanders in the
field.
The most hopeful sign they see is the
announcement that Lord Kitchener per-
mitted Mr.. Schalkburger and his COM
panions to proceed to the Orange River
Colony, the contention being that unless
the British commander CHIEF in South
Africa, who is on the spot, and, therefore,
most thoroughly converssnt with the stu
alton, recognized the possibility of fruit
Il lul TeSulIS anu DelleVeQ IN tue ROOQ 1a1tn
Of the Transvaalers, he would not have
permitted the visitors to continue the pill
grimage to the headquarters OF their Orange
River Colonies.
Press is Cautions.
The same cautious reserve permeates the
newspaper utterances and the comment in
we'll Informed circles. Some Significance is
attached to the fact that, in approaching
Lord Kitchener. Mr.. Schalkburger and those
associated with him have carried out to the
letter the advice given by the British
foreign secretary. Lord Lansdowne, in his
reply to the peace note Of the Netherlands
government, that the quickest and most
satisfactory means for arranging a set
Element would be by direct communication
between the leaders Of the Beers and the
British commander-in-chief in South
Africa.
There is no sign, however, that the
Transvaal mission received any mandate
from the fighting generals or that the
latter are prepared to recognize the author
tty of their acting president to negotiate
terms OF peace. 81 Presumably, the latter
satisfied Lord Kitchener that he had GER
tain clearly defined proposals to submit to
his ally, President Steyn. but the best
information from South Africa deprecates
any belief in the likelihood Of a simulta-
neous surrender Of the burghers still in the
field, on the order Of the Boer govern
ment. Almost the best to be hoped for
Is that the present overtures will so mod
ify the situation as to bring peace nearer. |
The Westminster Gazette this afternoon
urges that any peace proposal should be
regarded on its merits. pointing out that
the ungenerous assumption that the pre-
vious Boer overtures were signs Of weak
ness contributed largely to the failures |
OF the negotiations.
Radical Change Not Imminent,
The Pail Mall Gazette would like to
think that the brave, skillful commanders,
Dewet and Delarey. have arrived at the
height Of moral courage, once attained by
General Lee, and have realized that the
truest patriotism does not consist In the
prolongation Of a hopeless struggle" The |
paper confesses, however. that the military
situation Is not suspicious for such a
change Of mind.
The st. James Gazette extracts from the
u~nilluminative dispatches thus far received
from Pretoria the theory that Mr.. schalk- |
burger and the other members OF his party
have possibly already surrendered and have
been released on parole for the purpose Of
seeing President Steyn and General Dewet. |
The news from South Africa had a gen.
orally good effect on the Stock exchange.
In the House Of Commons the war secre-
tary, Mr.. Brodrick, announced that q fort
night ago Mr.. s~chalkburger intimated to
Lord Kitchener his desire to be granted a
safe conduct through the British lines and
back, In order to see Mr.. Steyn with ref
erenee to peace proposals. Lord Kitchener,
with the consent OF the government, has
aceeded to the request.
The announcement Of the war secretary
was received with cheers.
The Daily Chronicle, this morning asserts
that an armistice has been arranged pend
ing the duration Of schaikburgher's mission
to General Dewet and that offensive opera
lions against Dewet. Delarey and Botha
will be suspended. The three generals have
agreed to observe the armistice honorably
until the return Of the ENJOYS to the Boer
lines. 1t Is believed, continues the Daily
Chronicle, that the ENJOYS after acquaint,
ing Botha with the result OF THAR mission
will again confer with Lord Kitchener,
although no arrangement for the second
conference has been made.
In a dispatch from Pretoria, made public
tonight, Lord Kitchener gives. his usual
weekly total OF captures. etc, but does not
mention the sehalkbursher incident.
Result of European Plans.
AMSTERDAM. March AT is believed
In BOer circles here that the move OF Act
ing President schalkburgher is the result Of
a communication from the Bosr representa-
tives in Europe. A former member OF the
Transvaal government said tonight;
After the exchang OF the Dutch-Eng-
ish notes a conference was called for Feb
ruary. This conferences was attended by
and Il was decided TO send six emissaries
70 South Africa by different routes with
disPatehss for sscyn and -sohalkouIghsr.