The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-23
Probably Have Already Informed
President Kruger of Their Failure,
and Peace Proposals May Follow.
VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE
THE DELEGATES CORDIALLY RE-
CEIvED BY PRESIDENT M'KINLEY,
Who Repeated that Nothing Could Be
tude-PrOposed Concessions.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-The State De-
partment does not expect to have any fur
ther communication with the Boer delega-
ton. If the Boer delegates had any Gre
dentials giving them an official status, they
failed to present them, besides the inscrip-
ton on their cards indicating that they had
been sent out as ministers plenipotentiary
by the Boer republics.
1t is surmised that II they have creden-
tials comforting diplomatic powers on them
the delegates have purposely refrained
from presenting them In order to avoid
dislocation of their plans for the future
Having had reason to anticipate the
declination of the United States govern
ment to intervene In behalf Of their repub-
lies, and having thus failed in the primary
object of their mission to the United States.
1t is surmised that the delegates refrained
from endeavoring to establish a diplomatic
character In order to reduce the liability
to interruption in the propaganda they are
about to conduct in the country at large
Although the United States government
beyond doubt has the power to stop this
propaganda at any point, and dismiss the
delegates from the United States, 1t can be
stated that there is no likelihood of any
such action being taken so long as the
agitation is conducted by private indivi-
duals. But. 1t is said. at the State Depart
ment, the precedent established in the case
of Genet, the agent sent to this country by
French revolutionists. would require the
government peremptorily to stop the prose-
cution by fully accredited diplomatic
agents of a belligerent nation OF efforts to
aid their cause within the United States,
through public demonstrations.
1t is evident the delegates made a deep
impression on the officials Of our govern
ment with whom they came in contact yes
terday, and it is said that it was only the
plain demands of neutrality as laid down
in Secretary Hays response to the Boer
representations that prevented the return
of an answer that would have been much
more satisfactory to them. The delegates
were disappointed at the response made by
Secretary Hay. indicating that UP to the
last moment they had cherished a hope
that the United States government would
be favorably moved. Now that the answer
is returned, 1t is expected the delegates will
go at once about the second branch of their
business, and begin a series Of mass meet
ings and public demonstrations in the prin-
cipal cities of the United States with a
view to affecting public sentiment and per-
haps indirectly influencing the terms of the
peace which will conclude the present war
1t is gathered that the Beers are ready at
the last extremity to sacrifice everything
for which they have heretofore contended;
to let in the uitlanders to equal privileges
with native Beers in the Transvaal and
Free State, to abandon the much-talked Of
dynamite monopoly, and In fact, to make
any concession. If the victorious British
will but allow them independence. They
hope that the American people will bring
| such moral pressure to bear upon the Eng
lish that this object can be attained.
Meanwhile, 1t is the opinion in official
circles here that the prompt action of the
| State Department in dismissing the Beers
| application for Intervention has indirectly
| gone far toward bringing about a speedy
| termination of the South African war. 1t
| is assumed that the delegates here will find
| some means to communicate the unfavor-
| able reception of their appeal to Pretoria.
| In fact II Is intimated that the controlling
| British censors would not stop any such
message from passing over the cables to
| Lourenzo Marques. whence 1t might easily
be forwarded to Pretoria.
The State Department has not yet been
| addressed by any of the powers signatory
| to The Hague convention asking our gov
ernment to join with the twenty-five
| powers party to the peace conference in an
| effort to bring about peace between the
| British and the Beers.