The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-22
DOM PAUL STILL HOPES
Looks to the slgners Of the Hague
Convention.
KINGS JEALOUSY OF THE OLD PRESIDENT
Had He Himself Been King All Courts Would
Have Opened Wide to Him. The War
in South Africa Grows
Fiercsr.
(By the Associated Press.)


London, Dec. 21.---Mr. William T. Stead
has just returned from The Hague, where
he has had a long conference with Mr..
Kruger and has ascertained the views OF
Mr.. Kruger and his counsellors 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. President
Kruger has not abandoned all hope of
securing the support of the Governments
OF the civilized world in his demand for
arbitration. Until the last Government
refuses absolutely to say word in sup
port of the principles which they solemnly
laid down at The Hague conference, Mr..
Kruger will not partal1e in popular dem
onstrations 1t is recognized that if he
cared to do so he could shake the conti-
nent The popular enthusiasm for him
Is unparalleled since Garibaldis visit to
London. but until his diplomatic mission
is exhausted an appeal to the people
cannot even be taken into consideration.
Mr.. Kruger is emphatic in disclaiming any
desire to involve other nations in war
is that the Governments which at The
Hague declared their determination to
use their efforts to secure amicable set
Element of disputes by means of media
tion and arbitration should make united
effort to- bring the verdict of the civilized
world to bear on Great Britain
1.-The English Mr.. Kruger said are
waging this war in South Africa like
savages They are burning homes, de-
stroying dams, cutting trees, devastating
fields and creating famine. They are UNI
able to capture Dewet, but they are
making prisoners of women and children,
VINO are not treated with ordinary de-
cency Hundreds of women have been
confined in prison kraal, near Port
Elizabeth with only one chair, and sever
al of them are expecting to become
mothers
MIR. Kruger AYERS that the provisions
of The Hague convention and the laws
and usages of war are trampled under
foot and he wants to know whether the
signatories of this convention have any
thing to say on the subject
1.-THE man on horseback at this moment
is not Mr. Kruger but President Steyn.
He. Dearey and Dewet are masters of
the situation. having a better disciplined
and more effective force than that which
followed the vierkleur (hag) at the out
break of the war. They have plenty OF
ammunition and replenish their stores
continually from the British conveys.
They have taken enough Lee Metford
rifles to arm all the burghers now in the
field
Queen Wilhelmna is kindness itself.
She has displayed pluck, in remarkable
contrast to the timidty of many OF her
official advisers.
II found the old mans spirits mistaken
by his reverses. He disclaimed any de-
sire to humiliate England and said they
only wanted their rights.
ut may interest Americans to know
that Mr.. Krugers appeal to the civilized
world would be received everywhere with
enthusiasm were it not for the deep
rooted distrust and jealousy of the dy-
naties of Hapsburg and Hohenzollern
against the President of republic. II
he were a king the courts would have
been open everywhere. But the centra.
European monarchs dread the popular en-
thusiasm excited by the heroic figure of
the Republican President pleading for
Justice
This feeling, it is we'll to note, is
not shared by Russia. The Beers will
not listen to any proposals for any COM
promise. They are unanimous. Failing
Independence or arbitration they will pre-
fer to die fghting.'