THE DECLARATION OF PEACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 434, 5 June 1902, Page 4

THE DECLARATION OF PEACE.

By telegraph—Press Association — Copyright. LONDON, June 3. Kruger and Leyds showed (qnsternation when peace was declared without the burghers consulting them or revealing waai the term* would be. The other delegates acquiesced with dignity, and it is expected mat they will be allowed to return. Kruger states that he has no desire to return. Several skirmishes and fatalities occurred on Saturday. The delegates have started to bring in the commandos, which is expected to take a fortnight. The House of Lords was crowded on Lord Rosebery reading the peace agreement, and the members were very jubilant.

Lord Rosebery said that he hoped the agreement- would terminate a lamentable state of tilings. ■ Lord Rosebery gave hearty, unstinted and unreserved congratulations to the Ministry. He, hoped, lie said, that a new and bright epoch was opening in S outh Africa and for the Empire. The feeling in the lobbies is that liberality lias been pushed to its utmost limits.

The Opposition consider that terms ; given were as much as the Boers could reasonably expect. They assign the chief credit to Lord Kitchener. Mr Balfour lias given notice of a resolution of thanks to Lord Kitchener and the troops. The Kaiser sent most cordial congratulations to the King. The Emperor of Austria was ecpially warm in his congratulations. The Pope, King Victor of Italy,‘and most other Courts have tendpred felicities. The colonies have congratulated Mr Chamberlain. Mr Chamberlain was wildly cheered on his way to attend a meeting of the Cabinet. Flags decorated the principal buildings in London. Church bells rang and bands played in! alii.the principal centres of l United Kingdom. Boys agd men carrying , miniature Union Jacks and thousands' blowing penny whistles paraded the streets. -The night in London was nearly as noisy, but more decorous, than was the night when the relief of Mafeking was celebrated. In the provinces more sober scenes prevailed. The Government have issued a Blue Book containing the despatches relative to the peace negotiations. This shows that at the outset of the negotiations the Boers proposed that a treaty of peace be drawn up as between sovereign States. This proposal was firmly rejected by Great Britain. Mr Steyn then declared lie was unable to surrender the independence of the Boers without taking a referendum on the subject. He invited Great Britain to make proposals. Mr Brodrick- renewed the offer of the terms proposed at Middleburg in March, 1901. Mucli haggling followed. Even as late as May .19 the Boers proposed that while they should surrender their independence as regards foreign relations, they should retain the power of self-government under the supervision of Great Britain, and should surrender a portion of the territory. Lord Milner firmly checkmated this proposal, and stated he was prepared to draft peace terms, which the Gov-, eminent subsequently modified and made clearer. This modified draft the Boers finally adopted, after gentle pressure. Lord Kitchener refrained from issuing a full ultimatum. 'Pile correspondence shows that Transvaal notes will not be redeemed, but be merely accepted as evidence towards compensation. The banishment proclamation was tacitly dropped as regards persons, but is still applicable as to the sale of farms for the support of the inmates of the refugee camps. German newspapers alone of the newspapers of the Continent arc acrimonious and ungenerous in discussing the terms of peace. They are disappointed that Great Britain is not distressed, but' emerges from the conflict stronger than she entered it. Commandant Malan, who was woun. ded at Somerset, is likely to recover. It is estimated that fourteen thousand rebels will be disfranchised. Louis Botha joins his family in Brussels in a month. Most of the prisoners at Bermuda sang the National Anthem and Rule Britannia with wild enthusiasm, and embraced the British soldiers. Similar manifestations occurred elsewhere. At Durban camp cheers were given for the commander of the camp. It is expected that Lord Kitchener and Lord Milner will receive earldoms. Lord Kitchener will be granted one hundred thousand pounds. After Mr Balfour had made the statement in regard to peace m the House of Commons, Sir H. CampbellBannerman said the universal feeling of the country was one of the most profound satisfaction that it had been relieved from a strain which it had proved well able to bear., but wnich had been previously unexampled. .They were all at one, he continued, in recognition of the courage, endurance, patience, and discipline of the soldiers, who had maintained the traditions of our Army, also one and all recognised the self-devotion of those who had been our enemies, but who were now our friends and fellow-citizens in liberty and in the country. It. was the duly of the House to congratulate the King and nation, thrice blessed in the establishment of peace. The thanksgiving service held at St. Paul’s was crowded. .... The King and Queen received an ovation when they arrived at ; the opera. The Earl of Lansdowne’-ta'd Lady Lansdowne were cheered'-Wen noticed' at the Alhambra. Speci|i' ,, y-;features were introduced at the thealxes and music-halls. The King held a levee, . Thece was beautiful weather. TremCnd§H%ienthusiasm was manifested.' The driver of a hansom cab, evading tiie police, drove his vehicle alongsidethe coach in which His Majesty was proceeding to the levee. A collision occurred, and the horse at tached to the hansom was thrown beneath the coach. As soon as the carriage stopped, the King, who was not discomposed, stepped to the pavement, awaiting the extrication of the horse from beneath the

coach. The Daily News congratulates the Government upon securing peace with

reason. The Stock Exchange opened strong all round. Consols were at 98, but reached 99A on profit-taking. Mr W. P. Reeves the Agent-General for New Zealand, was presented at the levee held by the King. Russian and German papers allege that the Boers have achieved. a moral victorv. The American and Austrian press, in their comments, generous and sympathetic references, and consider that the terms are most cone liatory. French papers minimise the British success, but otherwise they are not hostile.

CAPETOWN, June 3. Sir Gordon Sprigg. speaking at Capetown, said that Mr Chamberlain had given an assurance that no suspension of the Constitution was contemplated. Sir Gordon Sprigg was confident that under tire new regulation the Government would win several Afrikander Bond seats, and be enabled to pass a Re-distribution Bill maintaining British supremacy for ever.