Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-02-05

tvs government might grant safe con-
duct to the Boer delegates now in Hot
land for the purpose Of enabling them
to confer with the Boer leaders I'm
South Africa. 1t is suggested that att
er conference the delegates might re-
turn 10 Europe with power to conclude
treaty Of peace with this country. and
the Netherlands government iptimates
that in this event 1t might at later
stage be instrumental in placing the
Roer pleniputentiaries in relation with
|plrnipOtentiaries who might be appoint.
ed by his majesty's government.
scarce Of the Proposal.
"The Netherlands government init
mates that if this project commends
itself to his majestXS government it
will inquire Of the delegates whether
they are prepared to make the sug
gested visit to South Africa. 1t may
therefore be inferred that the commu
nication received was made OH the
eminent alone and without authority
from the Boer delegates or leaders.
His majesty's government has given it
its best consideration. and. while Ell
tirely apprcciative Of the motives of
humanity which led the Netherlands
government to make this proposal. it
feels it must adhere to the position
adopted and publicly announced by it
some months after the commencement
Of hostilities by the Boers-that it is
lion of any foreign power in the South
African war.
Should the Boer delegates them
selves desire to lay Il request for safe
conduct before his ma jesty's govern
ment here is no reason why they
should not do so, but his ma jestys
government obviously is not in a po-
sitiOn TO express an opinion Oh any
such application until it has received
1t and is aware of the precise nature
and grounds wherein the request is
made.
status of BOer Delegates.
81 may therefore point out that it is
not at present clear to his maiesty's
government that the delegates retain
any influence over the representatives
Of the Beers in South Africa or have
any voice in their councils. They are
stated by the Netherlands government
to have no such letters of credence o,
instruction OF ii later date than March
1900. His majesty's government, on
the other hand. understood that all the
powers of government, including those
Of negotiation, were completely vested
In Mr.. Steyn for the Beers of the
Orange River Colony and Mr.. Scllalk
Burger for those of the Transvaal. If
this is SO. 1t is evident that the quick
est and most satisfactory means of ar
ranging IA settlement would be by di-
rect communication between the lead
ers of the Boer forces in South Afric,
ana the commander in chief of his
maiesty's forces, who has already been
Instructed to forward Immediately any
offers he may receive for the consider
alton Of his majesty's government.
I'm these circumstances his ma los
tvs government has decided that If tho
Boer leaders should desire to enter into
negotiations for the purpose of bring
ing the war to an end those negotia:
tons must take place not in Eurona
but in South Africa.
1T should. moreover, be borne in
mind that If the Boer leaders are to no
c'lpy time IN visiting South Africa. in
consulting with Boer leaders in tha
held and in returning to Europe for the
purpose of making known the results
of their errand period of at Ie,s4
three months would elapse durino
which hostilites would be PROLONGED
and much human suffering perhnns
necdlessly occasioned."
1t is now asserted that Lord Sails.
burys retirement from the politico,
world will be coincident with the end
of the BOer war.