Reuter's agent, telegraphing to Wednesday's papers, states that the Central
Peace Committee at Kroonstad has addressed an open letter to the inhabitants of the Cape Colony stating that the time has come for the inhabitants of the Orange River Colony to make every effort to save the country from further destruction. " We have done our best," they say, " and fought to get Africa under one flag, and we have lost. Let there be no mistake about this. England has spent millions and sacrificed thousands of lives, and no reasonable being can believe for one moment that she will now give up the fruits of victory." Meetings such as the Worcester Con- gress cannot and will not do any good, while they have done mach harm by giving encouragement to the burghers on commando. The fatal result of the Worcester Congress has been that commandos have again entered Cape Colony, encouraged by the resolutions and speeches, which gave the burghers the impression that the Colonists were ready to assist them by force of arms. " It was not brotherly of you to raise such false encouragement in their breasts. England has definitely announced that she will not restore the indepen- dence of the two Republics. Let us, in the interests of last- ing peace in South Africa, accept this announcement as final, and let us work for conciliation on that basis." It is difficult to know what, if any, importance to attach to these proposals. In all probability they are genuine, but much must depend upon the weight carried by the signatories. Personally, we do not think much will come of negotiating till the Boers have received another crushing defeat or series of defeats in the field, and we have secured two or three thousand more prisoners. Still, as far as it goes, the letter is a good sign.
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