Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-24
REGARD THE WAR At An END
Formal Declaration Of Any Amity, However,
is Still Lacking,
STATEMENT HOURLY LOOKED FOR
Despite the Conferences in south
Africa and the Confident Air In
England Fighting stiIl
Progresses.

LONDON, May 2s.-Peace in South Africa
is regarded as assured. but an oficiai
declaration TO that effect is still lacking
and there is nothing ofieial to indicate
when an announcement may be expected.
'uion is divided as to whether a state
4, = situation will be issued tonight,
J,. ne ct meeting. or whether it
hW,,,. the meeting Of the
Hou. fys Tag nday.
It SEEM. '8.sF he best that only
the basis OF the. ms will be laid be-
fore the ministers, a.. that II they are ae-
cepted the discussion Of the details may
still occupy some time, during which, pre-
sumably. an armistice will be declared.
Meanwhile, outside the Boer commanders
Immediately connected with the peace ne
gotiations, fighting continues. Lovats >
scouts surprised Pouches command in Cape
Colony Wednesday last and captured most
Of the Boer supplies.
Greater public interest was manifested
in this meeting OF the cabinet than has
been the case in any meeting since the
early stages of the war. The ministers
reached Downing street from all parts Of
the country and we're greeted by hundreds
Of people anxious for some sign Of the
probable trend Of affairs.
The Stock exchange has fully made up
its mind how things are going and declares
that the basis of peace was signed at
Pretoria yesterday.
Regards War as Ended
The cabinet meeting adjourned at $40 p.
m. The Associated Press has ascertained
that the government regards the war as
practically ended
Advices received by the War ofhce indi-
cat that whatever decision the Vereenig-
ing conferences may arrive at, most, II not
all, Of the Boer leaders who went to Pre-
toria will not continue the fight The pres
ent negotiations were merely for the pur-
pose Of enabling the Boer leaders to save
their faces" After they learn the results
OF this afternoons meeting Of the cabinet
the Boer leaders are expected to announce
their reluctant acquiescence with the
British terms.
The War ofhce does not expect any seri-
Gus defections from the rank and file on
the action taken by Generals Botha and
Dewet
Action is being taken at Downing street
TO prevent premature publication, owing to
a possibility that portion Of the Vereenig-
ing delegates might bolt and continue the
struggle without their leaders. Privately,
however, confidence is expressed in official
circles that everything is over but the
shouting.
Interesting references to peace are con-
tanned in a letter from Klerksdorp, dated
April 25. It says:
Seventy to eighty thousand British troops
are here waiting for General Delarey an
swer from the peace conference, and every
hour we are expecting them (the Boers) to
march in and surrender. We have actually
sent out wagon loads of clothes TO enable
them 10 come IN Iluy inere Is every piOs-
pect of peace. Lord Kitchener Games here
from Pretoria every other day. and seems
to be in particularly good spirits He
actually smiles, and that's a thing he not
often does. We attach great Importance
TO these smiles, IN regard 10 peace.