Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1902 — Where Boer Leaders Signed Peace Treaty [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Where Boer Leaders Signed Peace Treaty

The following letter descriptive of the Boer delegates—their appearance, mode of life, and views on peace—has come from a special correspondent in Pretoria: As a matter of fact, from first to last, while Schalk Burger, the vice president, and the rest of the Transvaal government, with the exception of Reitz, were in favor of peace on any or no terms, and Louis Botha shared their views, Steyn, De Wet and Delarey were for demanding Impossible conditions. Of that, however, anon. (The first protocol set out: That whereas Great Britain was responsible for the war, etc., and by force of arms, otc., they were willing to sue for peace on the understanding that their rights should be restored to them at the expiration of a fixed period, etc. All that was brushed aside and the delegates after a while, with some disputation among themselves, settled down to draft less objectionable terms. But Brer Boer is a quaint compound, suspicious, and slow to move in any approved common sense direction. Like mearly all primitive peoples, he has no ifear of asking too much, but a conEtant dread of seeking too little. He oes on the principle that arrangeEents and concessions are the out®e of entirely low, selfish motives lon the part of the other side. ! ) The delegates evinced little surprise [during their railway journey at the of the resumption of industrial pursuits in all directions, as if (there was neither war nor unrest in (the country. In conversation they beItrayed no special interest upon any (topic, except in the matter of politics, home and foreign. Officers and clvilijans who in kindness tried to engage (them in a chat found it dull work and [gave up the attempt. On the railway journeys they read little, passing the Itime for the most part in smoking, talking to each other, and drinking. Poor Mr. Steyn was more down on •his luck than any of the others on the [way to Pretoria. He was nervous and (out of sorts, and as he stepped out jof the train his hat fell off more than (once. But his eyesight 1b very bad—(worse than l thought it. There is Something more seriously wrong than lan ordinary cold and inflammation. A llocal medical man was called in and (is prescribing for him. Within a few ■minutes of their arrival each party was conveyed to a temporary residence. Sentries were placed at the gateways of their abode. The soldiers in question were drawn from the escort or guard of honor. It was conceded that the Boers could see whomsoever they wished, or go where they willed, in company of an officer. The only understanding was that the delegates, unless by express consent, should not [discuss politics or the war with their [visiters. Scores of female relatives jand a few of the sterner sex could be [seen walking about daily in the garden or lounging upon the verandas and balconies chatting with the Boer leaders. Delarey had visits from his daughter, who resides with her husband in Pretoria, as well as from old ■burgher friends. Doubt and suspicion ‘clouded the Boer general’s mind as they did those of his colleagues, destroy lng frankness and easy intercourse. And yet Delarey and the others were anxious to know what the true situation of affairs was, what chance there was tor assistance from abroad, and how much the English would con-

cede them. He said they would Insist that their flag, the “Vierkleur," should be retained. He spoke of their recent successes, in particular his own over Von Donop’s convoy, and the capture of Lord Methuen. “I took on the latter occasion over 857 of Lord Methuen’s column prisoners, including wounded,’’ he observed. “Why, I could hold out in the Western Transvaal for two years more,” added the Boer general, who is, I fear, suffering from that sad complaint, a “swelled head." But to a man who has lived upon the veld among a very homely, untraveled people such boastfulness is, under the circumstances, surely pardonable. Delarey is a man among and over his Boer compatriots. He is honest and downright in his dealings, and was so betore the war—a Boer whose word was his bond. He further hotly declared that if he fought he would fight, as in the past, as an honorable foe, and would do nothing to forfeit the good name of himself and his burghers. Lord Kitchener, wno surely is a diplomatist as well as a soldier —and he has had varied experience in both capacities, at least in Egypt—received the delegates at his residence. The Transvaalers, with but one or two isolated exceptions, were for immediate cessation of hostilities, even to leaving the Free Staters to themselves. In the end I believe it has come to this—they are to have the dubious honor of being the last to come in and to give up the further useless, wanton spilling of human blood. Steyn, who is, I fear, breaking up physically, voted for continuing the struggle, but his Influence counts for little beside that of the pugnacious, plump, swart, saturnine Christian De Wet, who is the real burgher master of uie Free State. Delarey’s was practically the only bellicose voj<se raised for war to the bitter end from the Transvaal. Mr. Reitz, the state secretary, need not be too seriously considered. But let this justice be done to Gen. Delarey, who deserves the meed of honest men’s praise; ne said: “If the commandoes or burghers accept the English flag I will abide by their verdict and come in, for l have done my duty. If not, I will die in the field, fighting for the old government and the old flag.” At last the voices of the burgher women—or, at least, a majority of them—are now for peace, and that has not been without its Influence for settlement in the deliberations. To get to the back of any man’s mind is not usually an easy task. It is almost an Impossible one when the stolid, taciturn, self-sufficient Boer is the subject of the operation. I would not be dealing fairly by you and your readers if I did not state that there are those among the Boers now demanding settlement and peace who seek to and would use these means to conspire for the abrogation of all the conditions mat they are today so anxious to sign. But the sense of fairness, the pride of keeping their plighted word, will, I believe, weigh with the vast majority, and the “peace” will be a lasting peace if the terms do not assign away the victor’s manifest rights. Better, in mercy's name, to “fight to a finish” than tolerate such a settlement, for bitterness and contention carried into civil life are more deadly to nationhood than war in the field between men. The future danger, if not guarded against, will come from the former evil 1 element in south Africa, intriguing

foreigners, who were mostly Hollanders. Brer Boer, left to himself, readily strikes up fast and lifelong friendships with a European. To give a succinct account of the conduct of the negotiations is difficult but not impossible. The customary embargo was laid upon our cabling news. Even letters, mark you, are not yet out of the censor's list, and as for the claim of the press to be informed of all matters of public importance that is an extravagant dream. The statement of the Boer case and claims was reduced to writing more than once. Constant communication was maintained as to the course of proceedings between Pretoria and London. Finally, when the proposals were drafted into something like conditions that could really be entertained, the text was wired to the Colonial Secretary. Thereafter came back in answer on Thursday, I think, the British Government’s irreducible minimum. Lord Milner had several days previously received a very long message in cipher, setting out the home authorities’ view and instructions. The negotiations were nearly broken off more than once, but the departing Boers delayed departing, and started to talk matters over afresh with each other. There was a Becond meeting on Thursday and one more on Friday (yesterday), the date of their actual return to the commandoes. Nothing is ever lost to a Boer for Vant of asking. In the beginning of the palaver the delegates “opened their mouths” monstrous wide. There was a declaration that England had unjustly provoked and made war upon the republics; that the struggle was an unequal one, and they wished for peace. They were able to continue the war for some time, but to stop further effusion of blood they would cease hostilities provided that within a year civil government was restored to the two states. They stipulated that, pending that and the withdrawal of the troops, they should be represented by an actual majority of at least four out of seven upon any administrative council formed to conduct the government of the country, that their flags should be retained, and at the end of five years the British forces should be entirely withdrawn from the Transvaal and Orange Free States, and these two countries should be recognized as independent republics. In that “purgatory” period there should be no disfranchisement of burghers, and the Boer officials should have control of the reins of government; and, further, they would agree to amend the franchise law, as formerly asked for by England, and would British subjects to vote, and also permit the use of the two languages. There was to be a general amnesty for all who had borne arms, Including Cape rebels. It was tolerantly pointed out by Lord Kitchener that such demands were unreasonable, intolerable, impossible. The process of cutting down seemed wearily slow, but bit by bit they lumbered from stage to stage, as it was seen that otherwise they would have to go back to their commandoes without any message. Ultimately the matter was put iu a manner from which there was no trimming possible by the British Government setting forth the terms they would concede and not go beyond. These were substantially the same conditions as were offered over one year ago to Louis Botha and the commandoes at Middleburg.