CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 15 April 1902, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The Transvaal delegates who were lately given safe-conduct through the British lines, in order to confer Jwith the Free State leaders, have been in conference with General Botha and at Klerksdorp since Monday. They are now awaiting General De la Rey and Mr Steyn. , . Me Qerald Balfour, President of tbo

Board of Trade, in a speech at Leeds said that personally he was not sanguine as to the result of the Boer leaders’ consultations in South Africa. The terms offered in March, 1901, regarding the future status of the Transvaal and Orange River Colony were, he said, still open. Beyond that that the Government was not prepared to go at present. Mr W. H. Long, President of the Local Government Board, speaking at Newington, said the Government was determined not to permit diplomacy to imperial the great sacrifies of the war. Earl Spencer, who was a leading member of the Gladstone and Rosebery Ministries in a speech at Lincoln, urged the amnesty of the rebels, the early abolition of martial law, early self-government of the conquered territories, and a liberal expenditure on farms. Boer independence, he said, was impossible. Commandant General Botha Generals Schalk-Buiger, De la Rey, De Wet Commandant Lucas Meyer and Mr Steyn have reached Pretoria from Kleksdorp. All the members of Government, except Lord Cadogan, were present at a meeting of Cabinet on Satureay. The deliberations of Cabinet lasted an hour and a half. Nothing has been revealed as to the object or the result of the meeting. Cabinet met again bn Sunday. King Edward, who has been visiting Falmouth, is hurriedly returning to London. The change of his plans is attributed to the prospects of peace. Consols have advanced five-eighths. A question was put in the House of Commons as to whether any proposal had been made on the part of the enemy. Mr Brodrick, Secretary of State for War, stated in reply that no communication had been received from the Boer leaders, and no armistice had been arranged during the commanders’ conference.

Commandants Hertzog and Ollivier and six others accompanied the Orange River delegates and Commandant Ferriera and dozens of other accompanied General De la Rey to the Klerksdorp Conference. Mr Wolmarans and Mr Wessels, Boer envoys, are to confer with Mr Kruger at Utrecht. Dr Leyds declared that peace is impossible until the European delegates have been consulted. BOER LEADERS IN CONFERENCE.

Commandant General Botha has joined General Schalk Burger, Mr Reitz, Commandants Kroga, Jacobs, Van Walden and Lucas Meyer at Klerksdorp. General De Wet, General De la Rey, Mr Steyn and three members of the late Free State Government have also arrived there to confer with the others. Newpapers urge the Government not to permit communication between the Boer leaders at Klerksdorp and Mr Kruger. RECENT CAPTURES. A Reuter telegram states that sixty Boer have been captured eastward of the ground covered by the drive in the north-east of Orange River Colony and twenty more at various places in the Transvaal. THE BANISHMENT-PROCLAMA-TIGN. Mr Chamberlain, replying to a question as to whether General Schalk Burger and others would be banished, after their safe conduct expires, if they fall into the hands of the British, said the proclamation dealing with banishment would remain in operation. ARMS AND AMMUNITION. _ Lord Stanley, Financial Secretary to the War Office, states that 450,000 small arms and 340,000,000 rounds of small arms ammunition have been issued in South Africa since the ultimatum. BRITISH REINFORCEMENTS. The war Office announces that a thousand Guards, who were inspected constitute the first instalment of the fresh force proceeding to south Africa for the winter campaign. More troops are to follow, starting next week. The infantry drafts total seven thousand; artillery, a thousand ;. colonials, five thousand. Transport arrangements have been completed. The last of the Militia sent in 1900 will be withdrawn before May. Newspapers . emphasise the importance, ot convincing the Boer 'leaders, now at Klerksdorp, that Britain’s preparations have not relaxed, and that there is a readiness to prosecute the campaign with increased vigour. RECENT CAPTURES. Eighteen Boers have been captured westward of Klerksdorp. NATIVES ON THE RAND. Since December 13 thousand natives have arrived on the Rand. MISCELLANEOUS. General lan Hamilton has succeeded Lord Methuen in the command of the torces operating against General De la Rey. The transport Manchester Merchant with 267 South Australian and Queensland soldiers, has sailed from Natal for Ibany. Mr Bennett Burleigh wires that General lan Hamilton will pursue Kemp’s commando. The British combination of columns is proceeding well.