THE PEACE REJOICINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 53

THE PEACE REJOICINGS.

THE VAGARIES IN LONDON.

(Per Sierra at Auckland

A cable to the Now York Tribune from London, dated Juno 2, gives the following description of ihe manner in which the nows of peaca was received in London : " Neither the metropolis nor tho nation is in a mood for a critical examination of the terms of peace. Eveiy British flag is flying, and e-very British face is beaming with joy and relief over the close- of tho «ar, which lias cost £223,000,000 and 21,000 lives. Lord Kitchener's name ib cheered in tho streets. Battalions of ' Hooligans ' arc blowing penny trumpets and waving flags, and impiovised choruses of men, women, and children are parading the ttree-ts and singing Rule Britannia..' " The vagaries and excesses of Mafclring night wero lepeated, and there was public rejoicing of all sorte Stockbrokers and mining operators started the day with uproarious cheers and buoyant prices, and the student? of King's College inarched to Downing street and the palaces to serenade Messrs Chamberlain and Balfonr, and the Kinpr himself. Grotesque and noisy as was the demonstration of satisfaction over the return of peace, there was no sign of exultation over a foreign foe. The House of Commons was densely oowded when Mr Balfoiu" read the offical statement of tho result of the negotiations. Interest was -o intense members could haidly wait for the halting sentences delivered without signs of emotion or excitement, and found themselves cheering whenever there was a convenient break. Tho applause was hearty on the Government benches, and many of the Opposition joined in the final round of ohoers.

The Boer leaders had made strenuous efforts to secure equality of treatment for their Cape allies, but? had only succeeded in

There is no neoes«ity to suffer fron> coughs and colds while TUSSICtJRA is available.

exempting them from the death penalty, since the rank and file were disfranchised for life and left liable to penalties for treason imposed by Natal and Cape Colony, whereas the Transvaal ancl Orange warriors were enly accountable for breaches of the laws of war. This determination disclosed firmness on the part of Mr Chamberlain in rendering treason odious. The language question had been, compromised probably through the pressure of the peacemakers in the Cabinet, and th« us« of Dutch was sanctioned iv courts and schools. The susceptibilities of the Boer 3 had been spared in every way, since the surrender was deprived of every aspect of humiliation. The burghers were licensed to protect themselves with arms. A generous appropriation was made to restore the farms, and a general release of prisoners and the establishment of local self-government were guaranteed at the earliest possible date. The terms were so magnanimous that even the pro-Boer radicals fouud little^ fault. Such criticism as was heard among members wag based upon th-e extraordinary leniency shown by the Government, and the apparent lack of safeguards against the reopening of military operations after the release of the prisoners. The compromise of the language question ■was also rogarded by aggressive unionists as a. source cf future disturbance. There was much comment upon the official recognition of representatives of South African Republic and Orange Free State in the first article of the agreement, and the explanation which was offered as to this revival of the dignity of two prescribed Government* was that it enabled Lords Kitchener and Milner to remand rebels to their own Governments. Mr Kruger was riot mentioned, and will not b© liablo to any proceedings.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke cf Cambridge went to the House of Lords tc bear tho peace statement of Lord Salisbury. There was a large attendance of peers and peeresses. Lord Salisbury, before mentioning South Africa, referred to the loss which the country hnd sustained in tho death cf Lord Pauncefote., who had done more than any one man to cement the union between, the two. great Anglo-Saxon races, -which is one. of the healthiest and most promising indications of the times. Lord Salisbury then remarked that he hoped the agreement upon terms of surrender would bring the himentable state of things in South Africa to an end. and proceeded to read the terms of the agreement arrived a.t with the Boers. Lord Rosebery expressed his hearty, unstinted, ancl unreserved congratulations in the. House of Commons. Mr Chamberlain and Mr Balfour both received great ovations as they walked to seats. The lobbies and waiting-rooms were crowded with disappointed seekers for seats. Sir Henry Cainp-bell-Bannerman, the Liberal leader, said, on behalf of the Opposition, that unbounded satisfaction would be felt throughout the Empire at the conclusion of p'cace. People were unanimous in admiration of their late> enemies, now their fiiends and fellow citizens, v.hose military qualities, tenacity of purpose, and self-sacrificing devotion to liberty and country, had won them the respect of the whole world. Mr Balfour having announced that the Government would takj an early opportunity of moving a vote of thanks to Lord Kitchener ancl tho forces in South Africa, the member 3of the Housereturned lo their ordinary avocation.- 1 . Then the TTousss in which even membeis could not find teats, was emptied, and diplomats, TncMan Rajahs in goigeous robes, peers and peeresses, commoner?, and the-ir guests trooped into tha lobbies, where general congratulations followed. Various objections to the ppoce terms were expres-jed, but they did net seem' to be very serious. The Irish point of view was tl-afc the Government had given up nrsctically everything, and that tie regulations affecting Cape rebels could be done away with in consequence of tho King's amnesty proclamation.

A parliamentary paper issued to-night gives correspondence preceding the peace agreement. From tlm it appears General Sr-ha!k Burger (Acting-President of the Transvaal) informed Lord Kitchener on March 12 that lie was i<-ady to mxko peace proposals. On April 13 Mr Brodrick refined to entertain any proposition based upon the nic'epenclenca of tha Republics. Later, the Beers declared the surrender of independence mu«t bo submitted to tho burghers in the fipld. Lords Milnor ancl Kitchener and the Boer Commission mot on May 19. The latter offered to surrender the independence of the Republics as regard? foreign relationo-, and lo surrender part <>{ their territory ami retain srlf-government iind'T British supervision. These proposals were forthwith rejected. The «=aJT>o clay Lord Milner. General Smuts, and Judge Hertzog dmw up a form of agreement to he submitted to the conference at A'creeniging for an "aje' or "no" vote. This was similar to the final asree-mcit, and with a few alterations was approved by Mr Chamberlain, who, in giving notice of his approval, told Lord Milnor be must inform thf« Boers that unless it was accepted within a fixed time the conference would b* considered ei.docl, and tho Government would not bo bound in any way by the pre ;ont declarations

A despatch from London, dated Jim's 7, «ays: — Iv all tlvft hurrahs over Lrrcl Kitchener, who is the man of the hour throughout the British Empire, (here is an element of dr^ad of thei infle-cibiJity of purpo«o ranttollmrr him in mi'itary matters This is espp-cialFy noticeable at the War Office. It is well known that his opinion el army organisations i<j not flstHering, an<' ho hao oft."ii expressed him.°elf regarding the- u.verace prmy officer in term of commiseration. Th« drrarl -of him felt by thf* military ors^ai i lotion h clue to the refusal of Lord Kitchener to allow any political or nnriy consideration to affect him in any rnih-friry problem he may have to solve. Men of this type are not a«op'-a.l>)p to tho governing elites in Kntain. Mr Chamberlain in th« oivilian and Lord Kitelmner in »he military arena are. tho roost conspicuous itinerations. Both rc-Pch tl.eir ends by methods quire alurming 1 to the bureaucracy and red tape regime. Lord Kitchener was truly needed to turn the British army organisation inside our, a^. Mr Charnbe-rlain was to revolutionise the old Tory tactics For this very reason, however, it i? likely some years must lapse before tlte hero cf t!>e Soudan anrl South Africa will be allowed to get much nearer London for .idm migrative purposes than he is now. The plan to slup him off to India under the guV> of promotion is really a device of tJiose who faar his iron hand at Home. No one pretends for a moment Lord Robejt3 can do anything worth doing in the way of army reform. Ho is a failure in that respect. Tho ISroclric v 's excsllent intentions have not yet bf-on effectual. Lord KitcHener, the one. man for the work, is the one man th© governing clag3 will not allow to do it.

THE KITCHENER VOTE

Mr Balfour, in asking for a. vote of £50,00(1 for Lord Kitchener, said it was a remarkable coincidence that Parliament on the samel date three yearß ago voted thanks ancf £30,000 to the same General for his =ciV vices in Egypt. Mr Balfour, in supporting the motion, referred to Lord Kitchener's rapid promotion. He said it had been given to few public servants to compass, in sa shert a time, so much work for the countrj a3 Lord Kitchener, wtio was Commander-in.« Chief in South Africa, and was Commander* in-Chief designated in India. He found the army in South Africa in a state of disorganisation, consequent upon th» ill success that attended the army at the early stage of the campaign. He executed his duty \rit\ admirable skill and energy, but it was no< until Earl Roberts left that the claims ol Lord Kitche-ner to the gratitude of til countrymen reached their present magni^ tude. Lord Kitchener had to meet witli unique difrknilties ; he had ereoted mor^ than 4000 miles of blockhouses, and to tbfl conduct of the campaign had brought a fertile mind, resourcefulness, boundless courage, energy, and resolution, and to these qualities Great Britain owed the termination o£ the war. Few English generals had contended with greater difficulties, and few had emerged from them in a more triumph* ant ancl brilliant way. Sir Henry CampbellBannemian paid a warm tribute to Lord Kitchener. - Mr John Dillon, the Irish NaHonali6t, led the Opposition on. behalf of the Nationalists. In the end the vote: was carried by 380 to 44, th© votes in the minority consisting of Irish Nationalists and two or three Radicals. '

An official statement issued by the Wai: Offico this evening shows that the total reduction of the British forces in South Africa up to May 30 of the present year " was 97.477. This included killed, wounded, prisoners, deaths from disease, and men-in-valided home. Of these latter, many hava recovered and rejoined their regiments. In a despatch to the London Daily Tele* graph from Bennet Burleigb, at Pretoria, he expresses the opinion that if tho British authorities die-play tact and forbearance, the reconciliation of the Boer 3 will not prove, difficult. " Lord Kitehe-ner's admirable con« duct of the negotiations," says Bennet Bur* leigh, " has done much to create and en« courage a spirit of mutual trust and friendliness. I have talked with many Boer leaders, including Generals Botha and Do Wet, and they all assured me that they had submitted in good faith, and that with tolerable administration, (Ireat Britain could hereafter depend upon the loyalty and fidelity of the Boers.''