The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13
End Of War in South Africa
is Within Measurable
Distance
ANOTHER MEETING OF THE
BRITISH CABINET CALLED
Beers Demand That the Order for
Banishment and Confiscation OF
Property Be Revoked-Aii
Leaders in Pretoria.

London. April 12-"Peace is within
measurable distance" That pfobaply
sums up the present crop of rumors, con-
lectures and deductions which has Great
Britain by the ears. AS pointed out in
the dispatches yesterday and confirmed
at midnight by Mr.. Balfour, the gov
ernment leader of the House of Com
mons, the reports of the definite end OF
a conflict of such length, involving so
many lasting and intricate issues, being
arrived at practically without any time
being devoted to negotiations, are palpa-
bly, premature
It is announced that the ministers at
todays meeting, which lasted an hour,
discussed a communication from Lord
Kitchener. While Lord Kitchener's mes
sage may have been of vital import
ance, the Associated Pres has god rea-
sons to believe that the sudden summons
of the cabinet ministers was due to de-
sire to decide whether or not the, pre-
sentation of the budget could be post
poned until the Klerksdorp negotiations
are settled one way or the other. What
ever the proposals of the chancellor of
the exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks Beach,
may be they will be greeted with storms
of criticisms from various quarters. Peace
will not modify the crying need of addi-
tional revenue, but it would take off the
sting from the additional taxation, which
is bound to raise a protest from every
class or industry affected. 1t will be no
surprise if it is announced on Monday
that the budget has not once more been
postponed. and If this does not take
place. parliamentary circles will regard
it as one of the best omeiSs that the
government practically is assured of
successful termination Of the Klerksdorp
conference.
Cabinet Meeting.
The cabinet council today, while it prob
ably did not fulfill the sensationally attrib-
uted function of deciding between peace
or war, undoubtedly reviewed the entire
situation, both as regards home finance
and the situation in South Africa. How
complicated and impossible of off-hand So
luton is the latter question can be
judged by an apparently authentic state
ment published in the Edinburg Evening
News this afternoon
The News, whose editor Is in close
touch with Mr.. Kruger, declares:
They will not make absolute indepen-
derce cardinal feature if they can come
to satisfactory agreement to the
future internal government.
The banishment and confiScation Of
property proclamation must be cancelled.
and confiscated property must be restored
to its owners with remuneration for pri-
vate stock and property destroyed or
taken by the British.
Full recognition of state debts contract
ed before and after hostilities and up to
the date of annexation proclamation is
sued by Lord Roberts.
The language is mutually agreed upon.
Amount of Amnesty.
OF these, the cardinal point and the
hardest for Great Britain to concede Is
the amount of amnesty to Cape rebels;
not so much because of British opposi-
tion, but owing to colonial opposition in
South Africa itself. While there is no
reason to believe that this Is not a semi
official summary of the Beers demands.
there also is reason to think they may
be modified. How strongly the govern
ment shares that hope may be judged
from the fact that the London police Off
cials today were ordered to keep espe-
cially large forces on duty until further
notice in order to avoid any repetition Of
"Mafekipg night" which it is feared
might ensue should the conclusion of
peace be announced,
One Of the curious features Of the pres
ent negotiations is that live of the Boer
representatives secured legal training at
the English bar.
The repeated rumors of Joseph Cham
beriain's resignation of the office Of CO.
lonial secretary which recurred after the
publication of his signal denial. may be
utterly disregarded. They rise out OF
aerious difficulties existing between HIM
self and the chancellor of the exchequer
over the West Indies aRi other colonial
matters requiring treasury cooperation.
which have frequently been mentioned in
these DISPATCHES I'D which appear to be
no more acute than they have been for
months.
Boer Leaders In Pretoria.
Pretoria, April 12.-Acting President
SchaIkburger, Generals Louis Botha,
Lucas Meyer, Delarey and DeWet and
MIR. Eteyn arrived here this morning
from Klerksdorp.
The Transvaal and Orange Free State
delegates journeyed on separate trains,
both of which were rushed through, the
delegates travelling all night The trains
arrived close together. The two parties
are not lodged together here but are
uuartered in separate houses.
Leitrecht, April 12.-The Boer delegates
and Leyds had another conference this
afternoon and in the evening the dele
gates returned to The Hague.
late tonight that another cabinet meet
ing has been arranged for tomorrow af-
ternoon.
Miller at Prison.
Jackson Mich, April 12.-Joseph