Show l ENGLAND TURNS DOWN BOWN BOEREE BOER CE LO DON bOK Feb 4 The The text of of the thet t of of Lord Lansdowne the British L ore jre oren n Secretary to t the e peace cation eaton of Dr Kuyper the Premier of ofle le e Netherlands is JS as follows 1 The Foreign Office Jan 29 Sir 2 Sir t ou pu w were ere good enough to lay before me meI I f. f a communication from I de Ethe e Netherlands Government In which 1 vas proposed with the bringing the thear ar r to an end his Majesty's Government Govern Govern- V L ment might grant a safe conduct to the I Boer delegates now in Holland for the 1 I purpose of enabling them to confer with th the Boer leaders In South Africa It is Js suggested that after a conference confer confer- j ence delegates might return to Eu- Eu ope rope with power power to conclude a treaty of of peace with this country and The Neth- Neth Government Intimates that In Inthis Inthis inthis this event they might at a later stage be instrumental in placing the Boer plenipotentiaries in relation with plenipotentiaries plenipotentiaries plenipotentiaries pleni pleni- who might be appointed by his Majesty's Government The Netherlands Government Intimates intimates Inti inti- mates that if this project commends It Itself itself It- It self to his Majesty's l Government they will inquire of the delegates whether they are prepared to make the suggested suggest suggest- ed visit to South Africa It may therefore therefore therefore there there- fore be Inferred that the communication tion I received was made on the Continued on Page 8 I ENGLAND TURNS DOWN I II I Continued from Page 1 of The Netherlands Government alone and without authority in the Boer Beer delegates or leaders His Majesty's Government have given given given en It their best consideration and while entirely appreciative of the motives of ot humanity which led The Netherlands Government to make this proposal they feel they must adhere dhere to the position adopted and publicly announced by them some months after the commencement commencement commencement commence commence- ment of hostilities by the Boers that It was not their intention to accept the intervention of any foreign power in inthe inthe inthe the South African war Should the Boer delegates themselves themselves themselves them them- selves desire to lay a request for a safe conduct before his l I Majesty's jesty's Government Government Government Govern Govern- ment there is no reason why they should not do so But his Majesty's Government Government Government Govern Govern- ment obviously are not in a position n nto to express an opinion on on such an application application cation until they have received it and andare andare andare are aware of the precise nature and grounds whereon the request est i Is m madeI madeI made 9 I may therefore the point out that it itis itis itis is not at present clear to fo his Majesty's Government that the delegates retain any influence over the representatives I of the Bo Boers rs in South Africa o or have I any voice in their councils They are I stated by The rhe Nether Netherlands ands Government I Ito to have no such letters betters of f credence of or or instruction of a later date than March 1900 His Majesty's Government on the other hand that all the powers of Government including those of negotiation were now completely vested in Mr Steyn for the B Boers ers of the Orange River colony and Mr I r for those of the Trans Trans- I vaal If this Is so it is evident that the quickest and most satisfactory tofY means of arranging a settlement would be by direct dired communication between the leaders of the Boers in South Africa and the commander commander in chief in-chief of h his s Majesty's forces who has already been instructed to forward immediately any offers he may r receive eive for the consideration consideration consideration consider consider- of his Majesty's Government In this connection his hb Majesty's l Government has decided that If the Boer leaders should desire to enter negotiations negotiations ne no- for the purpose purpose of bringing the war to an end those negotiations must take place not in Europe but butIn butin butin in South Africa It should moreover be borne borne- in mind that If the Boer leaders are to occupy time In visiting South Africa in consulting with Boer leaders in the field and In returning to Europe for forthe forthe forthe the purpose of making known the r re N results suIts of their errand a period of at least three months would elapse during during dur dur- ing log which hostilities would be prolonged prolonged prolonged pro pro- longed and much human suffering perhaps needlessly occasioned I have etc LANSDOWNE |