The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-10-23

founding o.; the United States the
Dutch inhabitants OF tho state OF
New lo,k bad irokked 10 The west
ward and established fresh commu-
MUGS Qndo, new flag. Then, when
me AW'ri,an reputation overlook
lh''o western states. they would be
iace 20 Coco alth the problem which
no saws Great Britain was forced 90
solve. IN hey found these new
states Gcuely antiAmerican and eH-
igemcit ogressive, they would
e2nerieucc that aGgravat.on OF their
uhcultics With which our sta sesmen
laro had 10 deal." said Sir Arthur
.u The S0anish-American war the
peace negotiations occupied longer
time rban did the fighting. which
Was over IN about 80 days 10 was
different n South Africa Only one
short chapter Is required by ;he hts
.0r.au 90 naridte The progress OF the
peace negotiations. the ultimate set
tlemen'. lud the hual consequences
of 'he lonE-Grawn hight between The
Doors and The British. which began
on OCT IL, 1899. and was not ended
by treaty until May O.. 1902. Moth
ing OF any decisive effect was done
a, any time, on either side, 20 con.
sttute an important event in the
war. There was simply wearing
process operat on which went on.
in an ineXOrdUle and horribly slow
Hdy I'll, the country CD which il
worked was a desert, and the endur-
aucc Of IT'S surviving people was
worn out
10 was not until March, 1902, that
the men on both sides began 10 give
to.,eus of mutual disposition 20
discuss te,ms OF peace. In the
preyous January the government OF
Tho Netherlands had offered 10 act
as Intermediary between Great
Britain and the Beers and the
prefer had been declined. the Brit
ish government repeating Its de-
termination to accept no foreign in
ters enQon AZ the same time, II
was suggested that, inasmuch as Mt.
Steyn and 5halk Burger, the chiefs
of he Orange Free State and OF
The Transvaal burghers, respective
IS, We're understood 20 be invested
with full powers Of government, IN
Guiding the power OF negotiation,
they could open. II they wished. di-
rect communication with LORD
Kitchener. who had already been IN
structcd 10 forward 20 his govern
ment any offers that he might re
ceiye.
Lord Kitchener sent this CORE.
,eft+++-He44-,I-4+ h4,l+t-eaHmnnt- 10 the
TraRsyaal government then estab-
lished a. Stroomwater. The sugges-
tion in its vas rightly taken as an
invitation. and Acting President
Burger AZ once asked for a safe con-
duct for himself and other mem
beers of his government into the Brit
ism lines. with intinations OF wish
Tor opportunity 10 meet the mem
bers OF the Free State government,
In order that they might concert
proposals for peace. His wishes
were Immediately granted. and on
the 22a he entered the British lines,
and was assisted in every way In
getting together the men whom he
wished "a consult Some were TAX
on away from active fighting, which
went on without them, no pause on
tho military side being permitted
tor single day during the parley-
ing. which lasted a month.
The British government declared
with emphasis that II could not ZEN
terrain any proposals based on the
continued Independence OF the for
mer republics, which have been for
mally annexed 10 the British
Crown" To this the Boer officials
replied that they had no power 10
negotiate on any other basis than
that OF independence and they asked
for an arm,stiCe 10 enable them TO
consult their people. This was re-
fused but after some diplomatic
see-5awiue. it was arranged that
they should have free use Of the
railway and telegraph. and that
military operations should be so
conducted as 10 allow opportunities
Tor meetings in all parts OF the
country, az which 80 burghcrs from
each republic should be elected
With authority 10 act for the peo-
pie
The result was draft treaty
which. Lord Miner assured the Boer
commissioners, was absolutely final.
and must be accepted or rejected
without change on or before the
thirty.frst of May. II was taken
10 the convention az Nereeniging on
The 2gth and there. in two days OF
stormy debate. the no-surrender
party led by Steyn and DE Wet
made their last stand When the
decisive vote was taken their ranks
were reduced 10 six. against "a. The
Eocr cmmissioners returned at