New-York tribune., 1900-05-03
STATEMENT FROM ROER DELEGATES
WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH BY
THEIR VISIT TO THIS COUNTRY

WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH BY
THEIR VISIT TO THIS COUNTRY
The Hague May 2.-After farewell visits to
Ministers Pierson and De Beaufort, the Boer
delegates started this afternoon for Rotterdam
on their way to the United States. A great
crowd at the station bade them farewell Floral
tributes reached the delegates from all parts of
the country. a committee of the South African
Union presented to the delegates silver palm as
an emblem Of peace. Hymns sung by the
school children gathered at the station, and
Messrs. Fischer and Wolmarans made short
speeches thanking the populace for the kindly
reception extended to them by "a people united
to them b bonds of race and religion
The delegates will sail tomorrow. In re-
sponse to a request for a final statement regard
ing what they had accomplished in Europe, as
to what they hoped to accomplish in America,
to how the refusal Of Secretary Hay to
receive them at Washington officially would
affect their mission Mr.. Fischer made the fol-
lowing statement:
Briefly the object of visit to the United
States is to appeal to the Government and peo-
pie in order to seek the establishment Of
peace. We nave thus far only visited Holland,
because the people of our race, and We wish
TO see the resolutions adopted at the Peace Con-
ference applied in We have reasons to
believe that we shall not lack support here if an
occasion favorable to the re-esta blishment of
peace arises. Here have only consulted
friends and have obtained information. We
think shall do well to go to the United
States a sister republic where the people had
the same struggle century ago which our peo-
pie are now having. We are going to the home
of a free people. The United States are free and
great above all in love of liberty and Justice We
are going with the object to rectify erroneous
opinions and to make the truth known. Our
enemies say much which they cannot prove,
and have thus led many into error. We are
convinced that if the truth is known no civilized
nation will refuse to support us. The principal
charge is that have desired and sought the
We will try to demonstrate the falseness Of
this. We only desire peace and the tranquil pos
session of what is as dear to US as it is to the
American people-our independence without in
juring the rights of other people. We do not
make appeal to the other American par
ties, but to the American people as a whole,
hoping that all parties viii unite on this COM
mon platform, as the grandeur Of the American
people will be further Increased If they aid a
little nation in its combat for its rights and lib
erty. Our object is TO end this cruel outpouring
Of the blood of all combatants, especially that
Of our kindred in the Free State, who are indis-
pensable to our existence as nation. We hope
this appeal to the Government and people of the
United States will not be in vain, and that our
way of carrying on the war has demonstrated
that we have the right to demand an independ-
ent existence for people and country In
South Africa.
Replying to a question as TO the conditions
which would now satisfy the two republics, Mr..
Fischer said he could not add anything to the
foregoing declaration.
Concerning the Washington dispatches saying
the United States Government would not receive
the deputation officially, Mr.. Fischer said:
We know absolutely nothing. We have seen
1t in the papers but we can say nothing more.
While Mr. Fischer was speaking, Mr.. Vessels
listened attentivey but confined himself to a
few words of Endorsement