Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-30
GIVE TERMS MONDAY
British Expected to Announce Definite Peace
Settlement First Of Week.
NO FURTHER DOUBT or THE CONCLUSION
Despite BalfOurs Pretended Uncertainty
Parliament is Sure Of Plan.
COMMONS LEADER EVEN HINTS At IT
Cabinet Puts Finishing Touches on Agree
ment to Terminate War
DESIGNATED AS THE PEACE SESSION
On the Eve of Cessation Fighting In
south Africa Progresses with
Unusual VigOr and
AgsressiVeness.
Despite BalfOurs Pretended Uncertainty
Parliament is Sure Of Plan.
COMMONS LEADER EVEN HINTS At IT
Cabinet Puts Finishing Touches on Agree
ment to Terminate War.
EslGNATEO As THE "PEAcE" SESSION

LONDON, May 2s.-The government
leader. A. J. Balfour, announced in the
House Of Commons today that he hoped to
be able on Monday next to announce the
result Of the peace negotiations in South
Africa.
Mr.. Balfour added: II cannot, however,
be absolutely certain OF being in a position
to do so, and until the statement can be
made do not think 1t expedient to take up
the budget"
The government leader also said: "A re-
cent phrase, hung in the balance has been
absurdly misinterpreted as referring to di-
visions in the cabinet on the subject Of the
budget. That is not fact, and the ques-
tion is whether the house can properly be
asked to discuss the budget until they know
precisely where they stand in regard TO the
negotiations"
In spite OF Mr.. Balfour's pretended un-
certainty thero is no doubt whatever in the
House Of Commons, or elsewhere, that a full
peace settlI-4ent will be announced Monday
next.
The capture of Commandant Malan, an
nounced from Middelburg, Cape Colony last
night, renews attention to the rebellion In
Cape Colony. Commandant Malan took the
late Commandant Scheeper's command when
the latter was captured by the British and
became chief Boer commandant in Cape
Colony after Commandant Kritzingers cap
! ture. Malan, who was mortally wounded
when captured by Major Colett's mounted
I troops, was among the irreconcilables who
refused to send delegates to the peace con-
ference at Vereeniging. Transvaal
Campaign I'm Cape Colony.
According to the latest uncensored cor
respondence from Capetown the Beers are
still in constant occupation OF at least
! twenty-five different localities in Cape
Colony, having more than a score OF bands
OF raiders, mounted and armed, and Of suf-
hcient mobility to defy successful pursuit
| although the British have often swept and
cleared" every mile of the colony's terri
tory. correspondent reports that he
invasion is more actively aggressive than
ever and rebellion Is more rampant.
The campaign against the rowing Boer
commanders in Cape Colony, which has
been in active progress for sixteen months,
has achieved nothing beyond keeping them
moving. ANY occasional success" the cor
respondent adds, obtained by the seven
teen British columns operating in Cape
Colony is more the result OF luck than OF
their tactics, and these unpalatable facts
will continue as long as so few columns CO.
| operate in the hustling. The inadequacy OF
the supply OF the troops is at the root OF
1 the unsatisfactory operations"
The British cabinet was specially sum-
moned last night and sat for a little over
an hour. 1t is generally accepted, how
ever, this morning that the session
! though brief, suficed to put the final
/ touches on the agreement which will
| terminate the war.
Colonial Secretary Joseph Chamberlain
was sufficiently recovered from his indispo-
sition to attend what is already designated
as the peace" cabinet.
Papers Believe BaIfour.
The morning papers are unanimous In
| accepting the statement OF the government
| leader, A. ]. Balfour, in the House of Com
mons, as having but one meaning namely,
| peace, but the papers believe that its long
| experience with the astute Boer Character
compels the government to the unusual
| precaution OF announcing nothing until the
terms Of peace are actually signed, lest
another surprise should be forthcoming at
! the last moment.
For reasons similar to the foregoing tho
censorship in South Africa has been Sc
riously devoted TO preventing the terms
OF peace from leaking out.
The delegates who left Pretoria at
o'clock Wednesday night include Acting
President schalkburgher Of the Transvaal,
General Lucas Meyer, commander In chief
| OF the Orange Free State forces; General
Botha, the Trsnsvaal commander in chief;
| Generals Delsrey and Dewet: State secre-
tary Reitz OF the Transvaal; General smuts,
Commandant Beyers and Landdrost Brand.
\ They are, therefore, representative Of ali
/ parties. II is presumed that these dele
gates have fully accepted the British terms.
! but in Pretoria It is believed they will
have. some dificulty in bringing the
Vereningen conference entirely TO their way
OF thinking, which is likely to delay q de-
cision in the matter until Manday.