The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-31
THE BOER PEACE ENJOYS.
English Feeling Concerning Their
American Reception.

1
| LONDON. May 1s.-From the point OF
view OF ngio-American understandings
and MISUNDERSTANDING it is rather a pity
that most Englishmen for three or four
days past have had eyes and ears only for
Mafeking and the pending relief Of its be-
sieged garrison. So far as their newspa-
pers and the talk that one hears show
| they have noted the arrival of the Boer
ENJOYS in New York and the reception
that they have received there: but the
| peculiar nature OF that reception has, per-
haps. enlightened them less than il would
nave done had their minds been freer from
a single absorbing preoccupation. In
rev days at most explicit news of the re-
lief OF Mafeking ought to be at hand. BY
mat time the Boer ENJOYS will be In
| washington or wandering TO and fro be-
| tween other American cities. It is safe
TO predict that in those they will receive
the same sort OF support and of applause
that they have enjoyed in New York. and
that even the slowly working British mind
VIII gradually grasp its nature.
| signs multiply. indeed that not the
least OF the good results of The closer re-
lations between the people OF England and
of the United States is to be the educating
process that the English public mind will
undergo through the Presidential cam
| paign. However much or little IL may
| turn upon Anglo-American relations, IL
| promises to be more fully ana more in
teliigently reported in the English news
| papers than has any of its predecessors
AT the moment. the treatment that
the Boer ENJOYS are receiving in America
promises to be especially enlightening.
In large measure English and European
opinion generally has taken American ex-
mr.
republics much too seriously. and expected
far too much from it. When Russian
newspapers cry out for the intervention
OF the Car: when French orators. with
an eye single TO domestic politics and
their personal advancement, make speeches
full OF fudge about freedom in South
Africa; when the loungers at German
cafes noisily celebrate some victory of
the Beers. Englishmen note the incident
with amusement or pass it over with
indifference. They have Settled down.
so to say, to such exhibitions Of Continen-
tai hostility. and they are well aware
that they are without effect upon the
steadfast policy OF Continental Govern
ments. Anti-English feeling serves many
useful domestic purposes in more than ors
Continental capital. and the men who
direct public affairs and shape public
opinions in them are willing to give
1t rein so far as it suits Their ends In
their view. so far as 1 could gather 1t
in Paris, nobody misunderstands, except
the Boer ENJOYS. whose gradual disillus-
ion over Continental sympathy and the
possibility of translating it into action
gave their fruitless mission a kind OF
pathetic dignity
On the Continent official voices have
harped upon American sympathy for the
Beers bpcau=e n tp On offarad no r1aIiact
way out Of an embarrassing situation and
served various selfish ends No Continent
tai Government, except that of Holland
could afford even to receive the Boer en-
voys. much less to lend them any en-
couragement. Semi officially and semi
secretly it could. however. suggest to the
ENJOYS that it was to the United States
that they should appeal. 1t could cite this
reason and that as grounds for possible
intervention on the part Of the American
Government. At bottom it is safe to say,
there was the lurking desire that the Adj
ministration at Washington, yielding to
popular agitation. might commit some in
discretion that would irritate public opin-
ion on either side of the Atlantic and chill
for the. moment Anglo-American relations.
There is not Continental chancellerie that
is averse to an opportunity to score off d
power that it still regards as an intruding
rival in what the Germans call world
politics and world trade. Not long since
they had only England to watch. Now
they have England and the United States.
and they are fain to keep them as wide
apart as possible.
Here in England the treatment that Mr.
Fischer and his colleagues are receiving
in America bids fair TO dispel some par
dOnable illusions. The English Govern
ment almost needless to say. has had lit
tie or 10 apprehension on the score of any
proffer of mediation, much less OF inter-
vention. on the part of the United States.
1t has been well informed as to the nature
and purposes of sympathy for the Beers in
the United States and as to the probable
course OF the Administration. 1t is the
fashion in some quarters to call the For
eign Office stupid: but il has Intelligence
and sense of humor enough to take much
American comment on foreign politics in
a Presidential campaign in precisely the
spirit in which it is meant-a yielding to
domestic necessities without real desire to
offend beyond sea. Indeed. it so well
all these things that it is NOT
unlikely to use Washington as medium
of communication between London and
Pretoria when the Beers make their sub
mission. Not so long ago it was possible
to discover some slight fears in official
quarters here that pro-Boer agitation in
America might impair the good under
ONtl vital
ests in the Far East. Now that foreboding
has quite vanished.
In these matters English opinion has
scarcely kept pace with the Foreign Office
and with the Cabinet: but with its increas-
ing knowledge of the preparations for the
Presidential campaign it is beginning to
that the agitation for interior
ence in behalf of the Beers is largely a
part of them. a month or two ago 1t was
puzzled. Now IL is on the way to enlight-
,nment. Thanks to the efforts Of the cor
respondents in New York OF English news
,apers and TO the letters and the talk OF
americans. it is learning that '.demonstra-
ions in America need not be weighed
much more seriously than "demnnstra-
ions" on the Continent; that because va
'iouS newspapers in New York are very
loisy they are not necessarily the more
influential; and that the Government at
and sober opinion in America
ire not wanting in discretion. 1t is act
ially realizing that many prejudices have
o be soothed and humored. especially by
ambitious politicians in a Presidential
If ii were rot still a little Ie-
'entful at American sympathy for the
Beers. when il foOlishly expected warm
approval CT English policy in South Africa.
t would almost la amused. After what
have read of the envOys re-
option in America one may even venture
o explain to them our phrase. 'the humors
II the campaign"