Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-02-05
ed and much humane suffering, per-
haps, needlessly occasioned. ~
y 81 have" etc.
(Signed) 'LA.>.5DOWNB."

Dutch prime minister to Lord LanSdownc
is as follows:
"In the opinion of the government OF
Her Majesty the Queen, the exceptional
circumstances In which one of the bellg-
erent parties in South Africa is placed
which prevent 1t from communicating d.
rectly with the other belligerent-consti-
tute one reason for the prolongation or
the war which is still raging without
pause or end and which causes so much
misery. 1t Is In fact exceptional ctrcum-
stance that one of the belligerent parties
is completely shut in and separated from
the rest of the world and that the Boer
representatives in Europe are deprived
of all means of communicating with the
general commanding their forces. The
difficulty thus arises that authorities VINO
ought to negotiate for the BOer side are
divided into two sections, which are de
prived of all means of deliberating to-
gether.
1T is evident that the Boer delegates
in Europe can do nothing because they
do not know the state of affairs In Af-
rica and that the Beers in the field are
obliged to abstain from taking any steps
because they are not cogn1Zant or the
state of affairs in Europe. Moreover. the
delegates in Europe are bound by their
letters of credence. which were drawn up
in March. 1890, which bind them so strict
iy to the independence of the republics
that they could not even be permitted to
accept the re-establishment of the status
putes which might arise were not laid
down at the same time.
These circumstances give rise to a
question whether the offer of good offices
could not be usefully made by neutral
power, in order to render at least possi-
BILE negotiations which otherwise could
not be opened. For this reason 1t would
be important to ascertain whether 1t
would be agreeable to the Britannia gov
ernment to make use of the good offices
Of neutral power. If such good offices
are confined by the two parties
THE Holland government might. per-
laps, be considered indicated for the per-
formance of this task seeing that the
Boer delegates are in Netherland terrific
ry. and accredited to that government
alone. If His Britannia Majesty's gov
government of Her Majesty. the Queen.
would have to inquire of the Boer dele
gates whether they are willing to proceed
to Africa and deliberate with the Boer
after stay of a fixed length, say fort
night, armed with adequate, full powers
providing for all eventualities and au-
thorizing them to conclude treaty of
peace which should bind absolutely both
the Beers in Europe and the Beers in
Africa.
''In the event of an affirmative reply 1t
would be necessary for His Britannia
Majesty's government to hand The Meth
erlands government three safe conducts
permitting the Boer delegates to proceed
freely to Africa. remain there freely for
the time agreed upon and return freely
to Europe. 1t would further be necessary
for the British government to allow the
use of a telegraph code: with the view of
appointing to place where the delegates
could meet the BOer leaders. On their
return The Netherlands government
could place them in communication with
the plenipotentiaries appointed for that
purpose by His Britannia Majesty's gov
ernment, and would willingly undertake
to place at the disposal of these gentle
men the accommodation necessary for
their meetings. The Netherlands govern
ment would then consider their task at
an end.
thus begun might lead to no result. Bat
the possibility of the contrary is also not
excluded. and in this condition of affairs
it appears desirable to endeavor to open
negotiations i'm the hope that they MAJ
De successful. and face difficulty which
exists for all belligerent parties. of TAX
ing the first step in this direction, and 1t
might be useful that Il third party should
undertake the matter and serve as an in
termediary.
(Signed) "GeIicke."
Baron Gericke Won Herwijnen is the
minister bf The Netherlands at London.
Chicago, Feb 4.-Montague White, rep
resentative of the Boer republics in
America. commenting upon the unfavor
able action of the British government,
said:
''The reply of Lord Lansdowne does
not close the door to peace negotia tions
but simply points out that these should
be concluded in Soueh Africa and not in
Europe. 1t must however, be understood
that as a condition precedent to any eff
fective negotiations the Boer authorities
in Europe and the Boer leaders in the
field must be placed III communication
with one another. Pre- sident Steyn will
not be a party to settlement without
the consent of President Kruger. and vice
versa. The offer Of the delegates to pro-
.eed to South Africa to confer there and
then return, involving a delay of at
east three months, is convincing evidence
that the Boer situation is much better
and more hopeful tlan the news from
British sources would lead one to believe
with regard to the statement that the
plenipotentiaries have no letters of cred
ence later than March, 1900, this does not
in the least imply that their powers are
invalid. for these remain in force until
nication with the leaders In the field-that
is, as constant as the means of locOmo-
ton will permit. for the mails and cable
are entirely in British control. The re-
fusal of the British government to ac-
cept foreign intervention is wholly irrele-
vent to the question. The Dutch govern
ment would not, after a lapse of two
years and three months. have approach
ed the British government with peace
proposals unless the latter had first sig
nified its consent. This is well estab-
lished principle in diplomacy.
THE action of the British government
ia not a real refusal but. on the contrary.
a very direct encouragement to the
friends of peace to persevere in their ef
forts to bring about an equitable settle-
ment. The situation is very hopeful and
1 reiterate what / have said so often and
what l convincedly believe that no coun-
try could use it's moral influence in a
more friendly and effective way to bring