The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-01
The DUTCH Proposals

The British cabinet yesterday declined
the proposition made by DR.. Kuyper, the
! Netherlands premier that the Neither.
lands government act as Intermediary il
the promotion Of peace In South Africa
| on the ground that the proposition was
| not authorized by the Beers themselves
1t was understood that DR.. Kuyper had
| received some intimation from the Boel
delegates In the Netherlands that they
desired to open negotiations with the
British government. If they did not, the
Netherlands government undertook work
of supererogation. %ss 1880
The British government Is reported to
be ready to accede to any authorized pro-
posal looking TO the conclusion of peace.
1t is the Beers lighting on the veldt and
on the kopjes who are to decide whether
the war shall cease on their part and it
is evident that neither the Dutch govern +.
ment nor Dr.. Leyds or the other delegates
In the Netherlands can make them stop
lighting until they elect to do so them
selves. Under such circumstances it
would be useless for Great Britain to
send commission to South Africa to
negotiate peace terms with the Beers
atield, with the certainty that they would
meet with fiat refusal. Kruger himself
has lost his influence with his fighting
compatriots, who will only cease their
operations when they feel like it.
The English liberals who adhere to
Lord Rosebery's position upon the crucial
question of the hour in England, that re-
lating to the continuance of the war in
South Africa, have an opportunity to do
something for the promotion of peace, for
Rosebery has declared that, while he sup
ports the government as standing for the
integrity of the empire, he will continue
to criticise It's methods, which are lament
ably short Of what the occasion requires,
and will approve every honest effort Of
peace with honor. The liberals under the
leadership of Sir Henry Campbell Banner
man, forming the radical opposition to the
government, and standing for the aban-
donment of the two Boer states to the
Beers and scuttling out of the country,
of the masses of the British people. The
Rosebery liberals, by pursuing his policy
vigorously, can gain from the indepen-
dents and union liberals and more than
offset the loss of the pro- Boer element
The party seems hopelessly divided on
the question of the official. attitude of the
party toward the war. 1t has not had the
vigor and aggressiveness of former days
since it divided on the subject of home
rule in Ireland and Chamberlain and
others who disagreed with Gladstone on
the subject went over to the conserva-
ives: The segment of the party now sup
porting the government could gain ground
by standing for Rosebery's postulate for
readiness on the part of the government
for rapprochment with. the Beers and
the effectuatio Of terms of peace on the
basis Of Rosebery's proposition of gen
Boer states in the status of the Dominion
of Canada, with a temporary prolonga-
ton of military occupation, and aid to
the Beers in the work Of rehabilitation.
The British war secretary, yesterday,
in the commons, showed that the cost Of
the war in South Africa for the present
year will be $305, ZOO, O0O and he congrat-
dlated the commons on the fact that the
expense of the war had been reduced to
S22, 100000 a month. This is a big drain
on John Bulls resources, but the old man
has yet a good store of guineas avail
able and his credit is good for many loans,
The British people, however, are get
ting awfully tired Of the expense.