The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-20
BOER PEACE ENJOYS
THEIR CREDENTIALS WILL BE RE-
CEIvED BY COL. HAY ON MONDAY.
No Possibility that the United States
Will Ask Great Britain to Stop the
War, as the Boers Desire.

WASHINGTON, May 19-The credentials
Of the Boer delegates. now in Washington,
will be submitted to the secretary of state
Monday next. Colonel O'Beirne called at
the State Department this afternoon and
arranged with Secretary Hay that the
Boer credentials should be submitted In
advance of the presentation of the gentle
men themselves. This is in accordance
with the usual rule governing the presenta-
ton of foreign ministers. So Mr.. Bruin,
the private secretary of the Boer delega-
ton. is expected to bring the credentials
to the State Department on Monday, where
they will be submitted for the careful ex-
animation of the department, which does
not at present know anything of their char
acter.
Colonel OBeirne, who some months ago
vainly sought recognition diplomatic
representative of the Boer republics, being
refused on the ground of his American
State Department in the interest of the
three delegates who were then on their way
to the capital from New York. Colonel
O'Beirne had previously had short talk
with the President. who directed him TO
the State Department. Secretary Hay
listened TO Colonel O'Beirnes report of the
reason why the United States should act
Il
O'Beirne felt that the mere direction of the
United States would suffice to induce Eng
land to cease hostilities. He argued with
good deal Of eloquence in support of this
contention, but without convincing the OFF,
Gals that the United States government
could intervene in the manner proposed
without becoming at once involved a
party to the war, for such request di-
rected to Great Britain, being in the nature
of an ultimatum. would require TO be en-
forced even TO the point of hostilities in
case the expected happened and England
refused our request. 1t can be set down as
certain that the present determination of
our government is not to request Great
Britain to stop the war.
1t made evident to Colonel O'Brien
to-day that the State Department is dis
posed to treat the Boer delegates with abb
solute fairness, and that their credentials,
consequently, are to be considered on their
merits. 1t is by no means foregone con-
cluson that the delegates are to be denied
official recognition. That was the first de-
cision, and 1t may, after all, be the out
come. But 1t is said that much depends on
the character of the credentials and also
upon the attitude of the delegates them
selves. 1t is said among certain officials
of the State Department that If the govern
ment should consider II necessary to cast
about for warrant for accepting the Beers
officially, it might turn to the convention
of 1884 between Great Britain and the
Transvaal. and declare that in that docu-
ment is, by implication, TO be found a re-
nunciation of Great Britain'S suZerainty,
and consequently there no longer exists any
prohibition upon other nations In their
dealings with the Boer republics, at least
to the extent of Offering official recognition
fact that consideration has been given at
all to this phase of the matter may be re-
garded significant of the fact that at
present the administration holds itself in
a receptive state far the credentials
are concerned, and is disposed to consider
them on their merits