Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-12-22
KRUGER'S PLANS
As Outlined by Mr.. VIM. T.
Stead of London.
Ha3 Not Abandoned tope Of Aid fIcm
Civilized World.
Until Thcn vii! No. Enter Upon Series OF Pop
u!ar Demonstrations.

London. Dec. 21.-Mr. Wm. r. stead
has just returned from Tho Hague.
where he has had a long conference
with Mr.. Kruger, and has ascertaincd
at first hand the views Of Mr.. Kruke,
and his councillors as to the present
situation and future PROSPECTS. Mr..
stead has written the following for
The Associated Press:
First of all nothing is decided about
his visit to America at present Pres
ident Kruger has not abandoned all
hope of securing the support OF the
governments of the civilized world ir.
his demand for arbitration. Until the
last government refuses absolutely to
say a word in support Of the princi-
pies which they solemnIy laid down a
The Hague conference, Mr.. Kruger will
not partake in popular demonstrations
1T is recognized that if he cared to
do so he could shake the continent The
popular enthusiasm for him is unpar-
aIleled since Garibaldis visit to Lon
don, but until his diplomatic mission
is exhausted an appeal to the people
cannot even be taken into considcra-
tion.
Mr. Kruger is emphatic in disclaim-
ing any desire to involve other nations
in war in behalf Of the Beers. What
he asks is that the governments Whicti
at The Hague declared their determin
alton TO use their efforts to secure an
amicable settlement of disputes by
means Of mediation and arbitration
should make united effort to bring
the verdict Of the civilized world to
bear upon Great Britain.
- The English Mr.. Kruger said.
are waging this war in South Africa
like savages. They are burning homes.
destroying dams, cutting trees, devas-
tating fields, and creating famine.
They are unable to capture DeWct
81 nd they are making prisoners of wom-
IN and children who are not treated
WITH ordinary decency. Hundreds or
women have been confined in a prison
kraal near Port Elizabeth. with only
one chair, and several of them are ex-
pecting to be mothers.
Mr.. Kruger AYERS that the provisions
Of The Hague convention and the laws;
and uslGes Of war are trampled under
foot and he wants to know whether
the signatories of this convention have
anything to say on the subject.
The man on horseback at this mo
ment is not Mr.. Kruger but President
Steyn. He. Delarey and DcWct are
masters of the situation. They have
plenty Of ammunition and replenish
their stores continually from the Brit
ish conveys. They have taken enough
Lee Metford rifles to arm all the burgh
ers now in the field. / cannot put their
position better than the words of one
Of Mr.. krugcr's counsellors:
England is our accuscr England
is the sole witness against us. England
is the judge. England is the execution
or, and England hopes to profit by our
death. We appealed for arbitration
before the war. We are fighting for
arbitration. today
tit may interest Americans to know
that Mr.. Krugcr's appeal to the civil
lied world would be- received every
whc:e with unanimous enthusiasm
We're it not for the decp-rootcd distrust
and jealousy Of the dynastics ~ Haps-
burg and HoZenhollern against the
president Of a republic. If he We're a
king the courts would have been open
everywhere, but the central European
monarchies dread the popular enthus-
iasm excited by the heroic figure Of the
Republican President pleading for JUS
ticc. This feeling, it is well to note. is
not shared by Russia.
The Beers will not listen to any pro-
posals for a compromise. They are
unanimous. Failing independence or
arbitration they will prefer to die
fighting"