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Show HOLLAND ASKS FOlv PEACE. London. Jan. :. The premier, t.ord Salisbury, ami tiu minister of foreign affairs. Lord f.-insdowne. took tlie unusual un-usual course or visiting the house of commons thii; a.'ternoon. They held private pri-vate consultations with their ministerial colleagues in the committee room. The incident aroused considerable interest :n the lobby, where the visit was connected with the note of the Dutch government on the subject of peace in South Africa. London. jall. :;o. The Hague correspondent correspon-dent of the Dally Mail says he is able to announce on authoritv that the Dutch note to Great Britain, after rehearsing the great concern of that government at the prolongation of hostilities in South Africa, offered its good offices in bringing bring-ing them to a close. To this end Holland asked whether Oreat Britain would be willing to permit per-mit a Dutch commission to proceed to South Africa to enlighten the Boer leaders lead-ers in the field as to the real position t.f affairs, and more especially since it is understood there is not the slightest chance of intervention on the part of any European power and that the prolongation prolonga-tion of hostilities is useless, as the brave struggle can serve no further good purpose. pur-pose. The correspondent says the Dutch government expressly announces in this note that it possesses no authorization whatsoever from the Roer leaders, either in Europe or rfoiuh Africa, to take this suggested step, but that it appeals u Great Britain on the ground of common humanity for military permission for the Dutch commission to accomplish its mission mis-sion of peace. Such permission would bind neither the British government to the discussion of terms or the initiation of any negotiations nor pledse the Dutch government for tlie success ot us sen-imposed uisk. It is understood that Great Britain is awaiting the receipt of Lord Kitchener's views on this suggestion, and is willing to grant the requested safe conduct to the Dutch commission if Lord Kitchener offers no objections, though it is not hopeful of any practical result from the effort. The truth appears to be that Dr. Kuy-per. Kuy-per. the Dutch premier, despairing because be-cause of the negative attitude of Dr. Leyds. the European representative of the Transvaal and his party, who maintained main-tained that their credentials only permitted per-mitted negotiations on the basis of the retention of Boer independence, decided to appeal to the fighting burghers. This explains the wish of the Boer delegates in Europe to disassociate themselves from the action taken hy Holland. |