The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-18

An Undercurrent OF Dlscontent.
Ltndon.-An Official cable dispatch
from General Kitchener. dated Pre-
toria. May 81. says:
a document containing terms OF sur.
render was signed here tits evening
at 1890 o'clock by all the Ecer rep
resentatives. as we'll as by Lzd Mil.
ner and myself"
Peace Is thus declared after nearly
two years and eight months Of q war
which has tried the British Empire
to Its uttermost and which has wiped
out the Beers from the list Of nations.
The war has come to an end with
General kitcherer's announcement
from Pretoria that he. Lord Milncr.
and the Boer delegates have signed
terms OF surrender"
This announcement Lad been IN.
tlcIpated for several days. but its re-
ceipt took the nation by surprise. as
everybody had confidently believed
that the House of Commons would
hear the first news.
The edge Of anticipation with which
Great Britain awaited the promised
statement In the House Of Commons
from the Right Hon. a. ]. Balfour. the
Government leader. was still further
dulled by the following message from
King Edward TO the people:
THE King has cetrived the welcome
news Of the cessation OF hostii.t!es In
South Africa with infinite satisfaction,
and His Majesty trusts that peace
may speedily be followed by the restor-
alton of prosperity In bis new donin.
ions, and that the feelings necessarily
engendered by war will give place to
earnest cooperation on the part Of his
Majesty's South African subjects In
promoting the welfare Of their common
country"
How greatly King Edwards insist
ence that peace In South Africa be Sc.
cured prior to his coronation influenced
the present agreement will probably
never be known until the private mem.
oirs of the present regime are given to
the public.
According to dispatch to the Daily
Express from Utrecht. Mr.. Kruger was
informed at night that peace had been
declared. He had been asleep. MY
God" he said. lit is impossible"
Mr.. Kruger and his encourage. the
dispatch continues. hope to be per.
United to return to the Transvaal.
This, however. Is quite unlikely.
London.-Not In years has the House
of Commons contained such u large,
brilliant a1d enthusiastic audience as
heard the First Lord of the Treasury
and Government leader in the House,
A. J. Balfour. announce the peace
terms concluded with the Beers.
Mr.. Baifour announced the terms Of
peace as follows:
His E1cellepcy Lord Miner. in be-
half Of the British Government: His
Excellency Mr.. Steyn. General Brem.
ner. General c. Il. De Wet and Judge
Hertzog. acting in behalf Of the Or
anSe Free State. and General ;Schalk.
Burger. General Reitz. General Louis
Botha and General Dela-ey. acting in
behalf Of their respective burghers. de-
string to terminate the present hostili
tks. agree to the following terms:
The burgher forces in the field will
forthwith lay down their arms and
hand over all guns. rifles and ammuni
ton Of war in their possession. or un
der their control. and desist from fur
ther resistance and acknowledge King
Edward VII. as their lawful sovereign
THE manner and details Of this sur
render will be arranged between Gen
eral Kitchener and Gen
eral Botha. assisted by General De
larey and Chief COInmandant De Wet
"Sccond-All burshers outside tho
limits of the TranSvaal and Orange
River Colony. and all prisoners OF wal
at present outside South Africa WHIT
are burghers. will. on duly declarin:
their acceptance Of the position of sub
jects Of His Majesty. be brought bach
to theft homes so soon rs means o.
transport can be provided and mean,
OF subsistence assured.
Third - The burghcrs so returnin:
will not be- deprived of their persona
liberty or property.
"Fourth-NO proceeding. civil or Grim
inal. will he taken against any burgh
ers surrendering. or so returning. fO
any acts in connection with the prose
cution Of the war.
THE benefits of this clause do NO
extend to certain acts contrary to tn,
| usages Of war. which had been mott
fed by the COmmandcr-ln-C Chief to tn,
Boer generals. and which shall be triet
! by cOurt-martial after the close OF hes
tllltics.