The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-08
WANTS TO USE PEACE TREATY.
sHAFoRTH SUGGESTS ACTION IN
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.

Says This Government should Tend
er Its Good Omces-Grosvenor HUI
morousIy Proposes n Commission
to Go Around Hunting Up Disputes
for the United States 20 Settle-Dip-
Iomatic and Consular ApprOprin-
ton Bill Passed by the House.
Washington Feb. THE House finished
the diplomatic and consular Appropriation
bill to-day, passing it substantially as it
came from the committee.
There was some desultory discussion of
the Philippine question and the war in
South Africa, the principal feature being
the speech of Mr.. Shafroth, in favor of
mediation in the British-Boer war under
the provisions of The Hague treaty. The
diplomatic bill, as passed, CARRIES 1,74S,9 0S.
The House passed the Senate bill au-
thorizing the Southeastern Railroad to
construct bridge across the Lumber
river in Robson county North Carolina.
Although general debate on the diplo-
malic bill closed yesterday by unanimous
consent MIR. Shafroth of Colorado was al
lowed forty-hve minutes to complete last
weeks speech in favor of mediation by the
United States in the South African war.
Under The Hague treaty he contended
that England could not consider an offer
of mediation an unfriendly act He in
sisted that the South African Republic
was an Independent government notwith-
standing Great Brtains claim OF suze-
rainty.
While the British were demanding relief
in the South African Republic, ne sald,
5000 Dutch residents of British Guiana,
born upon British soil, who are not al
lowed to hold office in the legislative,
executive or judicial branches Of the CO.
lonial government, We're petitoning for
relief. Their cases We're almost analogous
to those of the outlanders in the Trans
vaal, yet Great Britain refused to listen
TO the Dutch in her own colony
Mr.. Shafroth said he did not advocate
armed Intervention or even mediat ton, but
only the tender of Our good offices under
section of The Hague treaty.
GrOSvenOr Was Humorous.
Mr.. Grosvenor in replying briefly, said
he sympathized with any people stru!s-
Cling for liberty. Proceeding, he set the
House in a roar by running over the his
tory of Europe, pointing out here and
there the wrongs suffered by Hungarians,
Finlanders, Poles etc, all of which Were
represented in his district, yet the United
States had not felt called upon to inter-
fere He concluded with the suggestion
that a commission of twenty-five men,
bers at salaries of $4,000 each should be
appointed TO roam over the earth to dis
cover where wrongs have been commit
ted and to report to the House, in order
that the United States might go to war
every time the kin of any of our con-
stituents We're oppressed.
Would Act If Requested.
Mr. William Alden Smith of Michigan
suggested that while he was not author
lied to speak for the administration, he
knew that if our government was re-
Quested to act by either party to the con
flict it's kindly offices would be willing
~ placed at their disposal.
DO you know that such an offer has
been made?' persisted Mr. Shafroth.
Such information would be conveyed
through our diplomatic channels in Lon
don and Pretoria responded Mr. Smith.
But of the entire willingness of this
by the parties engaged in the conflict
there can be no question"
The bill was then read for amendment
under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Gillette of Massachusetts, speaking
to a pro-forma amendment, commended that
the natives of the Philippine Islands We're
not fl Tor seIf-government and would not
be within his life time.
Mr.. Terry of Arkansas said the Repub-
hcan party had changed very greatly
since 1860, when it stood for the liberia
ton of the slaves. Under its auspices now
slavery was recognized and tolerated in
the Philippines.
The bill was then passed and the House
adjourned.