The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-20
THE BOER ENJOYS
WERE KEPT BUSY
Shook Hands With a Constant Stream
Of Visitors Yesterday
BELIEVE PEACE POSSIBLE.
and That the United States is the One
Country So Situated as to Be
Able to Bring It About.
Their Credentials.
BELIEVE PEACE POSSIBLE 5 L

WASHINGTON, May 19-Three very
tired Boer ENJOYS stood up all the morn-
ing in their apartments at the Arlington
shaking hands with constant stream OF
visitors, acquiescing in the numerous re-
quests and suggestions Of the washington
Reception Committee, and cautiously par
rving the rapid fire of inquiries from a
small army of newspaper correspondents.
Mr.. Fischer, as usual, was the spokes-
English.
Commissioner Fischer talked quite freely
with the correspondents, and emphasized
his wish to be as frank as possible with
out giving offence to the American Gov
eminent
1--WE are playing a wholly unaccustomed
role as diplomats said he, ''and We must
be careful. It has been suggested TO us
since we reached America that we have
hurt our chances with the State Depart
ment by accepting the hospitality OF the
several committees that have welcomed US.
But I would like very much to nave the
case fairly stated to the public. our gov
eminent has turned to the United States
as to a great and powerful nation, whose
people, we believe, are our friends we
have a mission to perform to the State
Department. and there are things con-
nected with that mission which the State
Department has right to know before we
discuss them in public. We have con-
sistently refrained from saying to the
press what should first be laid before the
officials of this government, but when we
are met by committees, made up, as we
are assured, by prominent men who SYM
y, yI-nI1 n
turn our backs on these friends and re-
fuse the courtesies they offer US.
HAVE BEEN CRITICISED.
1--WE have been criticised for accepting
an invitation 10 the meeting at the
theatre tomorrow night before we have
been received at the State Department,
but we have promised to appear and make
our bow upon the guarantee OF the
committee that it is simply friendly
welcome extended by our Sympathlzers,
and will be free from all partisan poll
tics. If we believed there would be
word uttered there for fractional or politi-
cal purposes we should not attend, but
we have been assured it IS merely
friendly welcome"
Asked what We're the nature of the
Commissions credentials, Mr.. FISCHER
replied: They are from our Govern
ment, and we believe are ample to enable
Government, to stop the bloodshed that
is going on in our home country. Fur
Their than that l would not like to dis
cuss them i
Regarding the terms on which he
thought peace possible. Mr.. Fischer said:
I'VE have not come with. any hard and
fast proposition, butswe believe an hon
orable peace is possible. and we believe
the United States is the one country SO
situated as to be able to bring it about.
Would the recent victories OF the
British in South Africa have any effect on
the terms you would be willing to ac-
cept?" he was asked.
Possibly" he replied, "yet that is a
matter that I can't discuss now"
When asked if he expected to see any
of the representatives of Great Britain in
Washington, ne said:
I'VE may possibly. We shall not go
after them, but we should De glad to
talk to any fair-minded Englishman, for
If the English people had known the
truth in the South African situation this
war never would have been begun"
tWin the Transvaal entertain any peace
proposals 1hat recognize the suzerainty,"
he was asked. II; II
England wants suzerainty over the
republic he replied. "She viii have to
come and take it.
His two tall. swarthy companions
nodded assent.