The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-06-07

London. June 2.-Peace has been de-
clared after nearly two years and eight
months of a war which has tried the
British empire to it's uttermost and
wiped the Beers from the list of ma
tions. The war has come to an end
with Lord Kitchener's announcement
from Pretoria that he, Lord Miner and
the Boer delegates had signed "terms
of surrender" This announcement had
been anticipated for several days, and
it was definitely forecasted in these
dispatches; but it's receipt Sunday af-
ternoon took the nation by surprise.
The Kings Messnge.
The edge of the anticipation with
which Great Britain awaited the
promised statement in the house of
commons from Mr.. Balfour. the gov
eminent leader, was still further
dulled by the following message from
King Edward to his people, which
was issued after midnight:
1.-The king has received the welcome
news of the cessation of hostilities in
South Africa with. infinite satisfaction,
and his majesty trusts that peace may
speedily be followed by the restoration
OF prosperity in his new dominions. and
that the feelings necessarily engendered
by war will give place to earnest CO.
operation 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 influ-
enced the present agreement will prob
ably not be known until the private
memoirs of the present regime are
given to the public.
Kruger Hears the News.
According to a dispatch to the Daily
Express from Utrecht. Holland, Mr..
Kruger was informed shortly after
nine o'clock last night that peace had
been declared. He had been asleep.
"My God" he said. 'it is impossible"
Mr.. Kruger and his encourage, the dis
patch continues. hope to be permitted
to return to the Transvaal. This, how
ever is quite unlikely.
Lord I&itchcner's Dispatch.
The news which Great Britain was
so anNiously awaiting came charac-
teristically on an entirely pacific and
embarrassing Sundayafternoon, when
London presents a deserted appear
ance. Very late Saturday night dis
patch was received from Lord Kitch-
cncr, in which he said the Boer dele
"ates were coming to Pretoria, that
they had accepted Great Britain's
terms and that they were prepared
~ sign terms. of surrender. Mr..
I'rodrick, the war secretary. person
ally communicated this message tc
King Edward. who was at Blckine-
ham palace. But the government de-
clined to take any chances, and moth
ing concerning the receipt of this
message was allowed to leak out. At
about one o'clock Sunday afternoon
the war Office received the following
dispatch from Lord Kitchener:
"A document containing terms of sur
render was signed here this evening at
1850 o'clock by all the Boer representa-
tives, as we'll as by Lord Miner Che
British high commissioner in South At
rca) and myself"
The clerk ON duty at the war office
transmitted this message to Bucking-
ham palace, where King Edward was
lunching. At about five o'clock word
was ACSCANSu permitting lHC puUll-
cation of the message, and the small
notice which was stuck up outside
the war office consisted of copy of
Lord Kitchener's cablegram. A sim
liar notice was put outside of the
colonial office. Beyond these two
skinny bits of paper London knew
nothing of the great event. In the
clubs. the hotels and the newspaper
offices, which were almost deserted.
the momentous news was licked out
on the tape.
At the Mansion House.
Then like wildfre, at about six
o'clock, London awakened to the fact
that the South African war was over.
The Inhabitants of the East End
focked to the mansion house, the
mecca of the boisterously patriotic,
just in time to see the lord mayor OF
London, Sir Joseph C. Dimsdale, come
to balcony and announce that terms