The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-05

leaders in South Africa. It is suggested that, after conference, the delegates might return to Europe with power to conclude a treaty of peace with this country, and the Netherlands govern . ment intimate that in this event, they might, at later stage, be instrumental in placing the Boer plenipotentiaries in relation with plenipotentiaries who might be appointed by his majesty's government.
 ''The Netherlands government inti- mate that if this project commends it. self to his majesty's government, they will inquire of the delegates whether they are prepared to make the suggest ed visit to South AfricaI It may, there- 1 fore, be inferred that the communfca- tion I received was made on the re- sponsibility of the Netherlands govern ment alone, and without authority from the Boer delegates or leaders His majesty's government have given it their best consideration, and while en- tirely appreciative of the motives of humanity which led the Netherlands government to make this proposal they feel they must adhere to the position adopted and publicly announced by them some months after the commence ment of hostilities by the Boers, that i it is not their intention to accept the ! intervention of any foreign power in the 1 South African war.
 Should the Boer delegates them selves desire to lay a request for a safe conduct before his majesty's govern ment there is no reason why they should not to do. But his maiesty's government, obviously are not in a po- sition to express an opinion on any ap- plication until they have received it, and are aware of the precise nature and grounds whereon the request Is made.
 T may, therefore, point out that it is not at present clear to his majesty's government that the delegates retain any influence over the representa- tives of the Boers in South Africa, or have any voice in their councils. They are stated by the Netherlands government to have no such letters of credence or instruction of a later date than March, 1900. His majesty's government, on the other hand, understood that all the powers of government, including those
 
 vested in MT. Steyn for the Boers of the Orange River colony, and MT. Schalk- Burger for those of the Transvaal. If this is so it is evident that the quickest and most satisfactory means of arrang- ing a settlement would be by direct communication between the leaders of the Boer forces in South Africa and the commander-in-chie of his majesty's forces, who have already been instruct ed to forward immediately any offers he may receive for the consideration of his majesty's government.
 ''In these circumstances his majes- tvs government have decided that if the Boer leaders should desire to enter into negotiations for the purpose of bringing the war to an end, those negO- tiations must take place, not in Europe, but in South Africa. It should. more over, be borne in mind that if the Boer leaders are to occupy time in visiting South Africa. in consulting with Boer leaders in the field and in returning to, Europe for the purpose of making known the results of their errand, a period of at least three months would elapse, during which hostilities would be prolonged and much human suffer- ing, perhaps, needIessly, occasioned.
 "I have, etc Lansdowne."