Evening star., 1902-01-29
BOERS OFFERED NO TERMS
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS STARTED BY
LONDON PAPER.
BurShers in the Field Said to Be De-
termined to Keep
Fighting.


An announcement by Mr. Balfour in the
house of commons today that the Dutch
government has offered it's good offices in
bringing about peace in South Africa
caused sensation in the lobbies of parlia-
ment. Lord Rosebery is generally credited
with having brought about this movement
on the part of the Dutch government.
1t is recalled that DR.. Kuyper, the Dutch
premier, in an interview published about
Christmas time, was represented to have
urged the impossibiity of Hollands inter-
venfng in South Africa unless she had rea-
son to think that both parties wished it..
Consequently, it is regarded as certain that
the present move was inspired by the Boer
delegates.
The Petit Bleu of Brussels, the organ of
the Krugerites, fatty denied last night that
the Boer delegates had charged any one to
make peace proposals, and professed to be
in entire ignorance of the Dutch commune
cation.
The Hague correspondent of the Daily
Mail claims to have aScertained that DR..
Leyds inspired the Dutch foreign secretary,
who was further advised by Professor AS
ser, the international jurist, and adds that
DR.. Leyds, the European representative of
the Transvaal, is apparently attempting
to draw Mr.. Chamberlain, the British CO.
lonial secretary, to disclose the terms con-
ditional upon the waiving of independence.
initiation of the peace movement. This
paper says that after Lord Rosebery' S
speech at Chesterfield they sent DR.. Bliss
chop, who was recently counsel for the
Dutch government before the compensa-
tion commission and who is neither Briton
nor Boer, on mission to the continent to
invite the Boer delegates to a considera-
tion of the basis of negotiations which Lord
Rosebery suggested, namely, to grant the
Beers self-government on the Canadian
model; no unnecessary prolongation of the
military occupation: complete amnesty to
Beers and colonial rebels and grants of
money to enable the Beers to restart their
farms.
DR.. Bisschop had long conferences with
the Boer delegates on the continent with
the exception of Mr.. Kruger. But he was
assured that the eX-preSident had dele
gated his authority and that it was T OF
necessary to see him. According to the
paper Dr. Bsschop pressed the delegates
to hold a conference and discuss the pro-
posals Then followed the visit of DR..
Kuyper to London. za.
The Daily News" declines to reveal the
outcome of these conferences, but prac-
tically avows that the Boer delegates still
insist upon independence, and considers
that the government ought to reply, set
ting forth Great Briain's terms and leav-
ing the responsibility of refusal to the
Beers.
Daily News draws the inference that the
government has already replied and has
rejected the Dutch overtures as unauthor-
lied, as otherwise Mr. Balfour would not
have been in a position to promise the
papers on the subject, this promise show
ing that no further negotiations were afoot.
This was the impression in the Hobbies
as result of the announcement of the
government leader, and semi-official state
ments in government journals declare the
outlook for peace not hopeful
Those acquainted with Boer sentim ents
asserts that Messrs. Fischer and VOL
marans and Gems. Shaken Burger and
Botha are willing to recognize British an
nexation, while Mr.. Kruger and Dr. Leyds.
General De Wet and President Stein still
Insist upon independence. Therefore, at
present it is considered hopeless to arrive
at any agreed basis of negotiations.
The Standard declares that the govern
ment will have nothing to do with any
overtures from Mr.. Kruger or his entour-
age.
The Berlin correspondent of the Daily
News says he understands Holland con-
suited the European powers before ap-
preaching Great Britain.