NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE war news is, we are glad to say, this week mostly peace news. We do not go so far as to say that peace is actually in prospect, but the news of Friday morning is certainly more hopeful. The Daily Mail, which has been specially well informed in regard to the negotiations, stated on Friday morning that the basis of peace had been practi- cally agreed on at Pretoria between our Government and the Boer delegates. The best proof of the anxiety of the Boers to come to terms is to be found in the fact that they demanded that there should be an armistice pending negotiations, and when our Government most properly refused this demand, they did not break off negotiations, as their demand appeared to imply they would, but still continued to treat. According to the Daily Mail, the terms to which the Boers will agree are now virtually settled. They are the British terms, except that one or two seats will be secured to the Boers on the Executive Council at once. That is a wise concession, and should make Lord Milner's work easier, not more difficult. It is also presumed that our Government have acted liberally as to the resettlement of the Boers on their farms. No doubt it is quite possible that these rumours of peace may prove too sanguine, and that the Boer delegates may return to the field. But even if they do the war is not likely to last long. After these protracted conferences war will be begun again without much heart by the Boers. Guerilla fighting is not a game at which it is safe to let the players stand apart and get cold. It must be pushed on in hot blood if at all. Mean- time we must record that during the week there have been one or two actions of importance resulting in con- siderable loss to the Boers in killed, wounded, prisoners, and surrenders. If the Boer generals returned to their com- mandos to-morrow they would find them reduced by nearly a thousand men.
