The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-06-23
Before Peace Was sIaned.

A Parliamentary paper issued at
London on June 2, gives the CORE.
spondence preceding the peace agree
ment From this 1t appears that Gen
eral Schalkburger, acting president OF
the Transyaal, informed Lord Kitch.
ener March ~ that he was prepared
to make peace proposals. A month
later the Boer delegates submitted
propositions. April 13 the war secre.
tary, Mr.. Brodrick, refused to enter.
tain any proposition based on the
independence Of the republics. Sub
sequently President Steyn, of the
Orange Free State, and Generals
Schalkburger and Botha declared
that the surrender of independence
must be submitted TO the burghers in
the field. The British government
expressed surprise at this attitude.
but announced It's willingness to ac-
cept the Beers surrender on the same
terms that Lord Kitchener had pre-.
viously offered General Botha, and
to give facilities for a consultation of
the Boer commandos.
May II General Schalkberger and
Mr.. Steyn informed Lord Kitchener
that the burghers assembled at Yer.
eeniging had empowered a commits
sion TO negotiate peace terms, subject
to ratification at Vereeniging. Lord
Miner, Lord Kitchener and the Boer
commission met May 20. The latter
offered TO surrender the independence
Of the republics as regards foreign
relations, to surrender part of their
territory and retain selfgovernment
under British supervision. These
proposals were forthwith rejected.
The same day Lord Miner General
Smuts and Judge Hertzog drew up a
form of agreement TO be submitted 10
the conference at Vereenlglng for an
aye or no vote This was very similar
To the final agreement. and with few
alterations was approved by Mr.
Chamberlain. who. in giving notice of
his approval, told Lord Miner he must
INFORM the Beers that unless IL WAS
accepted within a fixed limit of time
the conference would be considered
ended and His Majestys government
would not be bound in any way by
the present declarations. The Boers
asked TO be allowed until Saturday
night to give an answer and the re-.
suit was seen in the termination NJ
the war, The last message of Lord
Mllner to Mr. Chamberlain. June
aiter the signing of the peace arrae.
menI mentions that Mr.. Stevn's
name was omitted from the signa.
lures because he was too I'M 10 come
to Pretoria, adding that he had al.
ready taken his parole. General Da.
wet signed for the Orange Free State
delegates because Mr. Steyn pomi. !
mated him acting president" on re-
uring from the conference.
The news OF peace in South Afrlca
was communicated 10 the Beers in the
ln'losure on Hawkins Island ON June
lSI The prisoners were delighted
and received the news with great ON. |
thnsiasm. shouting, singing and bur.
raining Some OF them rushed Wildly
about embracing every English soldier
'hey met and said: Yesterday we
were foes, but today We are friends -
Drinks were served out to the Beers ON
Hawkins Island, and the rejoicing |
there continued until a late hour
The Beers ON fuckers Island also
received the news with great iov
when the fact OF peace was commu. |
nleated 70 them, the prisoners went
ialrly Wild. shouting and singing the
'Folkslled' and other hymns until / |
O'Clock in the morning. AT reyelne
'he band OF the Warwick regiment
moved up TO the Tucker Island In.
closure and PLAYED Aud Lang sype %
Old NHundred" and God Save the
KING and In all OF these airs the
prisoners Joined most heartily. The
peace news was received by the pris.
'oers ON the other islands with simp. /
AZ manifestations of joy.