THE PEACE REJOICINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12393, 1 July 1902, Page 6

THE PEACE REJOICINGS.

nn: vaoauies in london.

(Per Sierra at Auckland. . A caHle to the New York Tribune from London, dated June 2, gives the following description of the manner in which tho news of peace wits received in London:— " Neither tho motropolis nor the nation is in a inood for a critical examination of the | .torms of peace, Kvery British flag is flying, 1 and ovory British facets beaming with l joy and reliof over the close of the war, which ' has cost £223,000,000 and 21,000 lives, Lord j Kitchener's jlame is ol.ewed in tho streets, | Battalims of ' Hooligans' are blowing '• penny trumpets and waving flags, and im-j proviswl olioruscs of men, women, and cliil- ' drcn are pMaiding tho streets 'and singing I 'Rule Britannia,'" Tho vngnrics and ox-! cesses of Mafeking night wero repeated, and | there was public rojoioing of alt torts. Stock- j ■brokers and mining operalors started the l day with uproarious cheow and buoyant | prices, and the students of King's College marchcd to Downing street and the palaecs to gerenado Messrs Chamberlain and Balfour, and tho King himself, firotesque and noisy as was the demonstration of satisfaction over the return of. peace, tlierfe was no sign of exultation over a foreign fee. The House of Commons was densely orowdrd when Mr Balfour read the official statement of tho result of tho negotiations. Interest was so intense members could hardly wait for tho halting sentences delivered without signs of emotion or excitement, and found themselves ohcering whenever there was a convenient break. Tlio applause was hearty on tho Government benehos, and many of tho Opposition joined in tho final round of cheers.

Tho Boer leaders had mado strenuous efforts to secure equality of treatment for their Cape allies, but had only suecccded in exempting them from the death penalty, wncc tho rank and filo were disfranchised for jifo and left liable to penalties for treason imposed by Natal and Capo Colony, whereas tho Transvaal and 0 ran go warriors wero only accountable for breaches of the. laws of war. This determination disclosed firmness on tho part of Mr Chamberlain in rendering treason odious. Tho language question had Ijecn compromised probably through the pressure of tha peacemakers in the' Cabinet, and tho use of Dutch was sanctioned in courts and schools. Tho susceptibilities of the Boers had boon spared in every way, since the surrender v,-.a« deprived of overy aspect of humiliation. Tho burghers were licensed to protect themselves with arms. A generous appropriation was mado to restore the farms, and a general release of prisoners and tho establishment of local self-government were guaranteed at tho oarliest possible date. The terms wcro so (magnanimous that oven tho pro-Boer radicals found little fault. Such criticism as was hoard among members was based upon the extraordinary 1 leniency shown by, tho Government, and tho apparent lack of safeguards against tho reopening of military operations after the release of tho prisoners. Hie compromise of tho language question was also regarded by aggressive unionists as a, sourco of future disturbance. There was much comment upon the official recognition of representatives of South African Republic and Orange Freo State in tho first article of tho ajjiecmont, and the explanation which was offered as to this revival of tho dignity of two prescribed Governments was that it enabled Lords Kitcbencr and Milner to remand rebels to their own Governments, Mr Kruger was iiot mentioned, and will not I bo liable to any proceedings. ' Tho Prineo of Wales and the Duko cf

Cambridge wont to the Houso of Lords to . . hear tho peace statement of I.ord Salisbury. Thoro was a largo attendance of peers and peeresses, Lord Salisbury, beforo mentioning Soutli Africa, roforrod to,tho loss which tho country had sustained'in tho death (if Lord Pauucofoto, who had done more than any ono man to cement tho union the two great Anglo-Saxon races, which is one of tho healthiest and most promising indications of the timeb. Lord Salisbury ilion romarked that ho hoped tho agreement upon terms of surrender would bring the lamentable state of things in South Africa to an end, and proceeded to read the terni6 of the agreement arrived at with tho Boera. Lord RoJcbcry expressed his hearty, unstinted, and unreserved congratulations in the Houso of Commons. Mr Chamberlain and Mr Balfour both received great ovations us walked to their seats, The lobbies and I waiting-rooms were crowded with disappointed tcckers for scats. Sir Henry Camp-boll-Banncrm.m, tho Liberal leader, said, on

behalf of the Opposition, that unbounded satisfaction would be felt throughout the Kmpire at tho conclusion of p'cace. People were tinanimouß in admiration of their lata enemies, now their friends and fellow citizens, whose military finalities, tenacity of purpose, and self-sacrificing devotion to liberty and country, had won them tho respect of tho whole world. Mr Balfour having announced that the Government would tab an early opportunity of moving a- vote of thanks to Lord Kitchener and tho fotcjs in South Africa, the members of tho llouso I returned to their ordinary avocations, Then I tho House, in which even members could not find feats, was emptied, and diplomats, Indian Rajahs in gorgeous robes, pscrs and peeresses, commoners, and their guests trooped into tho lobbies, where gcnoral congratulations ' followed. Various objections , to tho peace terms woro oxprosned, but they j did not soem to be very serious. Tho Irish point of view was that tho Government had given up practically evorything, and that the regulations affecting Capo rebels could l)fi (lone away with in consequence of tho King's amnesty proclamation. A parliamentary paper issued to-night gives correspondence preceding tho poaco agreement. From this it appears General

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Selialk Burger (Acting-President of the I ranwaal) informed Lor*' Kitchener 011 Alarch 12 that lie was ready to make peaco proposal*. _ On April 13 M r Brndrick rcfusetl l» entertain any proposition based upon* tlio independence of tlio Rcpnliliw. Later, the Jjoph declared the surrender of independence liimt he mihnuttod to the burgher* in the 11 I' or, ' J . ami Kitchener and tlio Boor Ummusion met on May 19. Tlio Alter offered to surrender the independence oi the Republics a* regard? foreign relaioiw, am to surrender part of their territory ami retain self.gqvernmont under Bupprviaion, Tliojo proposals wore Wn« n r<>JOC . a' I rll ° Mmc <'"? •yilner, Gcnwal Bm»U, and Judge HorUog droiv up a form of agreement to bo submitted to tlio conference »t Verecniaiiig for nil ayo or "no" vote; This was similar to the final ngrcoment, and with a few f . wa \ proved by Mr Clminbol--11111, ttlici, in giving uotico of bin approval, told Lord Milner lie must inform tlio Boer* hat unless it was accepted within a fixotl time the eonfcronco would bo considered ernied, and tho (lovornmcnt would not' bo bound m any way by tlio present doclara* lions. .

A despatch from London, dated Juno 1, says:—ln all tho hurrahs over Lord' Kitelioner, who is the man of tho hour throughout tho British Kmpiro, tbero U an clement of dread of tho inflexibility of purpose conMoiling him in. military matters. This is espofiially noticeable at the War Office. It is well known that bis opinion of army organisations is not flattering, and lie lias often himself regarding tho average army oflicor in terms of commiseration. Tho dread of him felt by tho military organisation is duo to tho refiljal of Lord Kitelicnor to allow any political or party consideration to affect him in any military problem ho may havo to solve. Mon of this type are not acceptable to' tho governing class in Britain. Jlr Chamberlain in the civilian and Lord Kitelicnor in the military at-ona aro tho meet conspicuous illustrations. Both roach their ends by methods quite alarming'to the bureaucracy and red tape regime. Lord Kitchener was truly needed to turn the British army organisation inside out, as Mr Chamberlain was to revolutionise tho old Toty tactics. For this very reason, however, it is likely somo years must lapso befoto tlio hero of tlio Soudan and South Africa will to allowed to get much nearer London for administrative purposoa than he is now. The plan to ship him off to India under tho gune of promotion is really a devieo nf thoso who fear bis iron hand at Home. No on» pretends for a moment Lord Roberts can do anything worth doing in tho tfsiy of army reform. Ho is a failure jn that respect. Tlio BrodricVs excellent intentions havo not yet been effootual. Lord Kitchener, the ono man for the work, is the one man tho governing class yrill not allow to do it. THE KITCHENER VOTE.

Mr Balfour, in apldnjf for a vote of £50,000 for Lord Kitchener, said it was a remarkablo coincidence, that Parliament on tho tame date threo years ago voted thanks and £30,000 to tho same General for his «ervices in Egypt. Mr Balfour, in supporting the motion, referred to Lord Kitchener's rapid promotion. He said it had been given to few jiublio servants to compass, in so Short a time, so much work for the country as Lord Kitchener, who was Commandor-in-Chief in South Africa, and was Commander-in-Chief designated in India. He found the army in South Africa in a stato of disorganisation, consequont upon the ill success that attended the army at the early Aage of tho campaign. Ho executed his duty with admirable skill and energy, tyut it was not until Earl Roberts left that the claims of Lord Kitchener to tho gratitude of his countrymen readied their present magnitude. Lord Kitchener had to meet with unique diflicultiev. he had ercotod more tliati 4000 miles of blockhouses, and to tho conduct of tho campaign had brought a fertile mind, resourcefulness, boundless courage, energy, and resolution, and to these qualities Great Britain owed tho terminalion of the war. Few English general* had contended with, greater difficulties, and few had emerged from them in a nwo triumphant and brilliant way. Sir Henry CampbellRaimerman paid a warm tribute to Lord Kit-hener. Mr \Tohn Dillon, tho Irish Nationalist, led tho Opposition on be- ' half of tho Nationalists. In. tho'end tho vot'o i was carried by 380 to 44, tho votes in tho ; minority consisting of Irish Nationalists and 1 two or . three Radicals.

Ail official statement issued by tho War Office.this evening shows that tho total reduction of the British force* in South Africa up to May -30 of the present year was 07,477. This included killed, wounded, prisoners, death* from disease, and men invalided homo. Of thes" latter, many have recovered and rejoined their regiments. In a deeps toh to tho London Daily Telegraph from Bennet Burleigh, nt Pretorin, he* expresses the opinion that if the British authorities display tact and forbearance, the reconciliation of the Boers will not provo difficult. " Lord Kitchener's admirable conduct of the negotiations," says Rennet Burleigh, "has dono much to creato and encourage a spirit of mutual trust and friendliness. I have talked with many Boer leaders, including Generals Botha and Do HVct, and they all assured mo that they had submitted in good faith, and that with tolerable administration Great Britain could hereaftor -depend upon the loyalty and fidelity of the Boers." '