NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.

Feilding Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 1410, 15 April 1902, Page 2

NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.

BRITISH MINISTERS IN CABINET. Telegraph.Press Association. Copyright London, April 14. The Duke of Devonshire (President of the Council), Mr Brodrick (Secretary for War) and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach (Chancellor of the Exchequer) met at midnight on Saturday at Mr Chamberlain's house and conferred for an hour, it is supposed respecting a cablegram from Lord Kitchener. Mr Chamberlain spent Sunday morning in his office. He had a two hours' audience with the King in the afternoon. The Times says the Boer delegates will probably attempt to renew negotiation from the starting point of Lord Kitchener's offer to General Botha, but the prolongation of the struggle has immensely altered the situation. It is imposssible to ignore this or to exasperate the loyalists by undue leniency towards the rebels. The Standard says the first proposals were merely intended as a means of opening preliminaries. Doubtless the Boers would ask too much, but if the demand for independence was frankly abandoned, the rest would be worth discussion. Later. Exaggerated and sensational reports current relative to the peace negotiations are entirely premature. It is considered in the most responsible circles highly improbable that the Boer delegates will at first submit to acceptable terms. It is believed the delegates journeyed to Pretoria to personally obtain information from Lord Kitchener on certain points. The brevity of the conference at Klerksdorp is considered to imply that the delegates are agreed on a general basis of negotiation. Though no formal overtures have been made, it is believed Lords Kitchener and Milner have a fair idea of the character of the terms expected by the Boers, and have cabled them to the British Government. The Transvaal delegates are lodged in General lan Hamilton's house, and the Free State delegates in a residence adjoining Lord Kitchener's. Lord Milner, High Commissioner of South Africa, is also at Pretoria. The Times, referring to the King's return from Cowes, says his Majesty's yachting cruise had reached its natural ending, and that business connected with the Coronation accounted for the King's return. The newspaper adds that the meeting of Cabinet was not connected with the discussion of peace proposals, since no overtures had been made by the Boers. Lord Salisbury and Mr Balfour have proceeded to Hatfield Hall, Lord Salisbury's seat.