The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17
B0ERS in LAST DITCH
WHAT PATRICK O'CONNOR LEARNED
FROM PEACE ENJOYS.
Significant Conversation on Board the
acknowledgements to Greet
the Visitors at New York.

LONDON, May 1.-THE Daily Express
publishes this morning a three-column
New York special. signed by Patrick
O'Connor. who crossed the Atlantic with
the Boer delegates on the Maasdam, under
pretense of being Irish-American and
a Beor sympathizer. AS a matter of fact
Mr.. OConnor understands the Dutch Ian
guage. and he claims to have overheard
much private conversation, in the course
of which Mr.. wolmarans is reported as
saying to Mr.. Fischer:
81 think we should be careful of what
we say to this man, as he may be a spy.
Are you sure he is an Americana"
Mr.. Fischer-There is doubt of 1T. I
can tell by his accent.
Mr.. Wessels-It would never do, of
course, for the British to know that we
are really in the last extremity. or for him
to know that we are thinking of staying
in America.
Then resuming the English language Mr..
Fischer began by blaming Cecil Rhodes for
bringing on the war. He said: 81 have not
a shadow of a doubt that Sir Alfred Mil
ner was sent to South Africa to pre-
pare for the spoliation of the Boer repub-
lies by force, IL necessary. The franchise
ruse was all humbug. President Kruger
conceded so much at the Bloemfontein COM
ference that Miner was in mortal fear lest
all his requests should be granted and lest
he should thereby lose the chance of an
nexing the Transvaal."
Mr.. Wolmarans said to Mr.. Fischer, in
Dutch: do you think we had better tell
him how Kruger broke of the confer
ence?"
Mr.. Fischer-No.
Mr.. Wolmarans, in Dutch-Our position
s,,o t. hot Of To NJ
the time of the raid. He expected Johannes
burg to rise to his assistance. We expected
the same of Cape Colony and Natal. We
are bitterly disappointed. Tell him how
Schreiner deceived us.
Mr.. Fischer-He knows WELL as well as
We do, that Schreiner is loyal to Great
Britain.
Resuming in English, Mr. Fischer said:
1--WE are going to win the war If 1t takes
years"
Addressing Mr.. Vessels, and using
Dutch, Mr.. Fischer then said: I'VE had
better not say too much. We are getting
lea in hope of obtaining the friendly help
of the United States in the cause of peace.
That is what we will say to the public. AS
a matter af fact we have no hope what
ever. We have no cut and dried pro-
gramme"
Mr.. Fischer went on to say that the
brother of Mr.. Vessels, who happened to
be in the United States and who was act
ing in conjunction with Montagu White.
believed that some sort of peace prelimin-
aries would be arranged. but If the dele
gates failed in the United States the Beers,
Mr.. Fischer declared, would still not
give in.
Mr.. O'Connor says: 1.-The delegates were
much astonished at the reception on the
arrival in New York. When land was
sighted Mr.. wolmarmans exclaimed:
What shall we do when we get there: "
The Daily Graphic, which refers to the
Boer mission to the United States as a
by-product of the war, says: There is
no name of Importance among the orators
who saluted the delegates. We fear they
have fallen into sort of Anglo-Saxon am
bush, and being victimized for purely
party purposes.
The Times considers the rumors cabled
here as to President McKinley's alleged
pro-Boer sympathies, utterly baseless."
1t says: Mr.. Mckinley is convinced that
the country does not wish him to inter-
fere, and that interference would be in all
respects inexpedient well impossible. "
The Times also refers to the admission
by the American State Department of
Portugafs general right TO refuse passage
to contraband goods