Gilpin observer., 1902-05-29
PEACE NOT SO SURE
SERIOUS HITCH IN THE NEoo-
TIkTiONS AT PRETORIA.
Eoer Delegates Not Satisfied With
| Terms-London Press Still Certain
of Amicable Settlement of Long
Strife-cacinet to Meet.

Pretoria, May 27.-The prevalence
throughout South Africa of an optimist
ic feeling regarding the peace negotia-
tions is hardly based on solid facts.
The protractioE of the conference at
Vereeniging is not necessarily
favorable sign. The delegates to the
conference. although they have aban-
doned their hopes OF securing inde-
pendence, still have many points of
difference with the government, while
an obstinate minority still regards the
resumption of hostilities as the best
outcome OF the present situation, and
at any moment the points Of difference
may be accentuated into { refusal to
continue the negotiations. 1t is most
unlikely that those who are in favor
of peace will throw up the sponge SO
long as a. decent minority is tles.rous
of continuing the struggle. and all
these dissonant elements must be
taken into account before 1t is possi-
BILE to give any sort of prediction as
to the issue of the present negotia-
tions.
The Hague, May 27.-It is said in
Boer circles here that the peace pro-
posals made to the conference at
Vereeniging, Transyaal, includes the
condition that the Beers in the field
be allowed to consult with the Boer
delegates in Europe before definite
settlement is reached. 1t is declared
also, upon the same authority. that
the British government refused May
% to accede to this request.
London, May 27.-The Daily Mail
says the cabinet council, to be held to-
day, will decide upon points of details.
mostly of a financial nature, which
have been raised by the Beers in the
peace negotiations. Great Britain's
decision in the matter will then be
communicated to the Vereeniging con-
ference by the delegates at Pretoria,
says the paper, and. being the best OBJ
tainly be accepted. The results
should be announced officially either
Thursday or Friday of this week,
probably on Friday. the day upon
which King Edwards birth is ceie-
brated. Peace is quite certain, says
the Daily Mail, and the delegates at
Pretoria are only engaged in endeav-
oring to gild the pill for the Vereen-
iging convention to follow.
Just before parliament rose, after
midnight last night, a rumor reached
the lobbies that a hitch had occurred
in the peace negotiations. Nothing
Official concerning this rumor could
be ascertained, but the dispatch to
the Associated Press from Pretoria,
in which it was said that the prsva-
lence throughout South Africa Of the
optimistic feeling in regard to the
peace negotiations was hardly based
upon solid facts, may be regarded as
an indication that such a hitch has oc
Cured. Little information from Pre-
toria has recently been able to pass
the censor there.
That the government yesterday
fully anticipated a speedy conclusion
of peace is believed to be shown by
the postponement from yesterday un-
til Friday or later of the budget bill
in the committee stage, with the view,
as was frankly admitted on the gov
ernment side of the house, of enabling
the budget to be recast in the event
that peace is secured.
The tax on grain has proved so un-
popular throughout the country and
has had such an unexpected effect in
reuniting the liberal party with most
effective election cry. there is little
doubt the government will welcome
en- excuse to drop it.