The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-03
cHEERED CHAMBERLAIN.
Balfour Also vociferously Applauded
bv the Commons.

London. May Mot in years had the
House of Commons been thronged with as
brilliant and enthusiastic an audience as
when the First Lord of the Treasury ana
leader in the House, A. ]. Balfour, an
nounced this afternoon the peace terms
concluded with the Beers
An hour before the House met large
crowd on Whitehall vociferously cheered
the notable politicians. particularly the
Colonial Secretary. Joseph Chamberlain
who walked unconcernedly from the colo
NAL office, with broad smile on his face.
Long before the customary prayer. the
galleries of the House were packed. Mr..
Chamberlain and Mr.. Balfour both re-
ceived great ovation as they walked 10
their seats. The lobbies and waiting
rooms were crowded with disappointed
seekers for seats, among whom were
many Americans. The period OF waiting
finally came to an crd. Amid GREATNESS
silence, broken a few second later by ap-
plause such as the Hous of Commons
seldom hears, Mr.. Balfour stood up ana
announced the terms on which the war IN
South Africa had been ended.
parliamentary paper, issued TINS
evening, gives the correspondence preced-
ing the peace agreement. From TINS II
arrears that General Schalk-B Burger, act
ing President of the Transvaal. informe
Lord Kitchener, March II. that he was
prepared to make peace proposals. A
month later the Boer delegates submitted
propositions On April ID the War Secre-
tary, Mr. Broderick, refused to entertain
any proposition based on the independence
Of the republics. Subsequently President
Stcyn of the Orange Free State and Gen
erals Schalk- Burger and Botha declared
that the surrender of independence must
be submitted to the burghers in the field.
The Brit sh Government expressed sur
prise at this attitude, but announced Its
Willingness to accept the Beers surrender
on the same terms that Lord Kitchener
had previously offered General Botha
and to give facilities for consultation
of the Boer commands.
On MAY IL General Schalk- Burger and
Mr. Steyn informed Lord Kitchener that
the burghers assembled at Vereenining
had empowered a commission to negotiate
terms, subject to ratification at Vereen-
lining. Lord Miner Lord Kitchener and
the Boer commission met May 10. The
latter offered to surrender the independ-
ence of the republic as regards foreign
relations, to surrender part of their terri
tory and to retain self-government under
British supervision. These proportions
were forthwith rejected.
The same day Lord Miner, General
Smutz and Judge Hertzog drew up form
of agreement to be submitted to the con-
ference at Vereenining for a yea and nay
vote This was very similar TO the final
agreement and with few alterations was
approved by Mr.. Chamberlain, who, in
giving notice of his approval told Lord
Miner he must inform the Beers that u1-
less it was accepted within a fixed limit of
time the conference would be considered
ended and his majesty's Government
would not be hound in any way by the
present declarations. The Beers asked TO
be allowed until Saturday night to give
an answer and the result was seen in
the termination Of this war, The last
message of Lord Miner to Mr. Chamber
lain. June 1. after the signing of the peace
| agresmant. mentions that Mr.. Steyn' 4